Social psychology An explanation of how the peer pressure process works, called "the identity shift effect," was introduced by social psychologist Wendy Treynor, who weaves together Festinger's two seminal social-psychological theories (on dissonance, which addresses internal conflict, and social comparison, which addresses external conflict) into a unified whole. According to Treynor's original "identity shift effect" hypothesis, the peer pressure process works in the following way: One's state of harmony is disrupted when faced with the threat of external conflict (social rejection) for failing to conform to a group standard. Thus, one conforms to the group standard, but as soon as one does, eliminating this external conflict, internal conflict is introduced (because one has violated one's own standards). To rid oneself of this internal conflict (self-rejection), an "identity shift" is undertaken, where one adopts the group's standards as one's own, thereby eliminating internal conflict (in addition to the formerly eliminated external conflict), returning one to a state of harmony. Although the peer pressure process begins and ends with one in a (conflict-less) state of harmony, as a result of conflict and the conflict resolution process, one leaves with a new identity—a new set of internalized standards.
social psychology an explanation of how the peer pressure process works called "the identity shift effect" was introduced by social psychologist wendy treynor who weaves together festinger's two seminal social-psychological theories (on dissonance which addresses internal conflict and social comparison which addresses external conflict) into a unified whole according to treynor's original "identity shift effect" hypothesis the peer pressure process works in the following way one's state of harmony is disrupted when faced with the threat of external conflict (social rejection) for failing to conform to a group standard thus one conforms to the group standard but as soon as one does eliminating this external conflict internal conflict is introduced (because one has violated one's own standards) to rid oneself of this internal conflict (self-rejection) an "identity shift" is undertaken where one adopts the group's standards as one's own thereby eliminating internal conflict (in addition to the formerly eliminated external conflict) returning one to a state of harmony although the peer pressure process begins and ends with one in a (conflict-less) state of harmony as a result of conflict and the conflict resolution process one leaves with a new identity—a new set of internalized standards