During adolescence peers, especially friends, become increasingly important. These peers can provide each other with learning experiences by observing each other’s behaviour. The aim of this study...Show moreDuring adolescence peers, especially friends, become increasingly important. These peers can provide each other with learning experiences by observing each other’s behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peer relationships, friendship quality and self-esteem on observational reinforcement learning in adolescence. In this study, 232 participants from 10 to 15 years old performed an observational reinforcement learning computer task in four different conditions: individual learning, learning from an unknown peer, learning from a neutral classmate and learning from a friend. In this computer task participants had to learn which of two stimuli had a higher probability of reward. Besides, the participants completed friendship quality questions and a self-esteem questionnaire. A mixed ANOVA showed that adolescents learn significantly better when learning from a peer compared to when learning individually. However, the relationship with this peer (friend, neutral classmate or unknown peer) has no significant effect on reinforcement learning outcomes. Furthermore, our results showed no significant differences in reinforcement learning between adolescents with lower friendship quality and adolescents with higher friendship quality and no significant differences in reinforcement learning between adolescents with a lower self-esteem and adolescents with a higher self-esteem. Our study also did not find a significant interaction effect of peer relationships and friendship quality on observational reinforcement learning and no significant interaction effect of peer relationships and self-esteem on observational reinforcement learning. Thus, our study suggests that adolescents’ learning outcomes are better when they learn with peers, but the relation to the peer whom they learn with matters less. Future studies could further extend the knowledge on the topic of observational reinforcement learning, peer relationships, friendship quality and self-esteem in adolescents by examining cross-cultural differences from early to late adolescence in both a controlled and natural setting.Show less
