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Research indicates that peer influence can:

a) Discourage any sort of political action
b) Allow people with weaker opinions to convince people with stronger opinions
c) Encourage independent thought on social issues
d) Encourage those without strong opinions to conform to the group

User Rehab
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Peer influence often encourages those with weaker opinions to conform to the opinions present within their social groups, leading to reinforcement of existing beliefs, which can be exacerbated by echo chambers created via social media.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the student's question is peer influence within the context of political socialization and its effects on people's political opinions and actions. Research indicates that peer influence can encourage those without strong opinions to conform to the group, as mentioned in option d). This phenomenon is due to the powerful role that social groups play in shaping our views on politics, as well as the communication networks we are a part of that are based on trust and common interests. With the advent of social media, people have greater control over creating and selecting their peer groups. This can reinforce existing beliefs rather than challenge them, leading to echo chambers. Furthermore, it's important to note that while peers have a strong influence, family and other factors also have a significant role in political socialization.

User Neberaa
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