It is also noteworthy that this study identified predictors of susceptibility to peer influences that were potentially bi-directional in nature, and which had different valences for different parties in peer interactions. For example, if the friend of a susceptible teen was relatively low in substance use, than that teen's use was less likely to increase over time. This suggests that susceptibility to peer influence might only be maladaptive with respect to substance use if a susceptible teen had selected a substance-using peer as a close friend. Susceptible teens might also be influenced in positive directions by their more competent friends. Thus, susceptibility to peer influence, as identified in this study, would primarily operate as a risk-factor for deviant behavior in the context of selection of peers who engaged in such behavior. Indeed, it might act as a protective factor for teens who selected peers with more prosocial behavioral profiles. The findings of this study, then, indicate likely risks for susceptibility to peer influence broadly and not simply to peer influence toward deviant behavior. Susceptible teens might be as susceptible to
