Final answer:
The process of young people helping others make decisions is mentorship. Peer pressure and mentorship are both important aspects of socialization through peer groups. Family typically exerts the most significant influence on political socialization, but peers also have a crucial role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process during which young people help other young people to make decisions is mentorship. This involves more experienced individuals guiding less experienced ones. Peer pressure, on the other hand, involves influence from peers and can affect an individual's decision-making. Both concepts are part of the larger socialization process where peer groups play a critical role. Peer groups are made up of individuals of similar age and social status and are a key source of support, learning, and social development during the adolescent years.
Reference groups are the groups whose values and norms influence an individual's behavior. In terms of political socialization, family is usually considered the most significant influence, but peers can also play a critical role. Collective action problems tend to be less severe in smaller groups, where individual behavior is more easily monitored, and peer pressure can serve as a stronger incentive for cooperation.
The Asch experiment demonstrated that participants conformed due to normative social influence, which is the influence to conform to the expectations of others. Conditions under which informational social influence occurs include situations when the answer to a problem is unclear or when the group is perceived to have expertise. In adolescence, peer group influences can sometimes override parental guidance, especially in matters where social acceptance and fitting in seem crucial.