Importance to Society
A peer group include members who share the same/similar interests, social positions and usually have a great influence on the socialization of group members
Peer groups can also serve as a platform for teaching members gender roles
Adolescent peer groups provide support for children and teens as they lean into the adult society
This decreases their dependence on parents which increases self sufficiency
Peer groups have an important influence on psychological and social adjustments for group individuals
Demographic Influences
The influence of peer groups typically peaks during adolescence
Adolescence and late childhood are when children/teenagers are more vulnerable and malleable
Peer groups usually form during school and places without adult supervision.
Population aimed at: children/teenagers at school/ during extracurricular activities, and when children/teenagers are not at home
Peer group socialization equally affects both male and females
Same race peer groups: youth forms group based on similarities, similarities include race; this encourages prejudice ideals
Cross race peer groups: schools and environments that are more diverse promote cross race peer groups; this lowers prejudice and promotes prosocial behavior
Primary or Secondary
Peer groups are focused on mainly secondary socialization
Family members, neighbors, etc. are focused on primary socialization
Peer groups allow children or teens to have freedom apart from the supervision of their parents
These groups also allow kids to share interests and activities that they wouldn’t share with their parents with people their own age clothing, popular music, etc.
Problems with Peer Groups
Bullying is the primary problem amongst peer groups today....
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...ith more confidence to extremes such as drug abuse or crime.
Many teenagers look to peer groups to define their values for them and are drawn in by the message of acceptance and the potential directions for life they offer.
The changes in peer group socialization over the last century
Adolescents are becoming more heavily influenced by their peers when it comes to dress, musical fads,and substance abuse
Youthful concerns may center on popular music and movies, sports, sex, or illegal activities. This has become more prevalent in the late 1990s-present day
There’s been in an increase in peer pressure to engage in underage drinking, smoking and drug abuse
Societal norms have also changed the ideals of sexuality and teenage sex
100 years, sex before marriage was looked down upon due to strict religious beliefs but now it has become more common and more widely accepted
Teenagers enter into adolescence feeling insecure and unsure of themselves. They desire to fit in and belong. If they don't, they see themselves as abnormal. Children seek to become independent from their parents and immerse themselves in their own social environment during adolescence. According to Psychologist Erik Erikson “Peer groups fulfill the adolescent’s need for validity and acceptance and provide space and opportunity for exploration and experimentation.” This is likewise to the Protagonist Tracy because in order for her to get Evies acceptance she stole a purse from an old lady and afterwards went on a shopping spree. Tracy explored and experimented many things with her new found peer group however, from there, it all spirals down as Tracy experiences and responds to a variety of pressures and situations not uncommo...
Identification with a peer group is a critical part of growing up because even though there is a mix between valuable and invaluable points, no one wants to be left with nobody to help them figure out how they fit in the world and get pass tough times. Peer pressure can have positive impacts and not so good but the postive are too valuable to overpass, leaning us over to conclude that classifying with a circle of close friends are a key factor when going into the real
Children create peer groups to gain a sense of belonging and acceptance, alongside with socializing with others who have common interests, jobs, or social positions. At a young age, peer groups show children what is considered acceptable behavior around his or her peers and what is deemed unacceptable behavior. In certain social groups, there are role expectations that people have to be met. When in the peer group, often children will influence each other to engage in appropriate behaviors that can be seen as right or wrong.
Race has been a controversial issue throughout history and even more so today. The idea of race has contributed to the justifications of racial inequality and has led to the prejudice and discrimination of certain racial groups. Race and racism were constructed to disadvantage people of color and to maintain white power in America. Today, race has been the center of many political changes and actions that have affected people of color. The idea of race has played a role in how people from different racial groups interact amongst each other. Interactions within one’s own racial group are more common than interactions among other racial groups, at least in my own experiences. Therefore, because I have been positioned to surround myself with people from my own racial group since a very young age, I have internalized that being around my own racial group is a normal and natural occurrence.
Peer groups are different in characteristic and require a customized approach. Nonetheless, at the heart of youths is an intense energy that yearns to connect and explore the surrounding (Goold 435). This makes it easier for the youth to engage in improper habits that have dire repercussions.
... instead of following the majority. The issue of peer pressure can relate to teens, as they are in constant pressure to be ‘cool’ or to be in the ‘in’ group. It does not really promote individualism, so people cannot develop their own ideas but rather follow the leader of their group.
“Positive intergroup contact is a necessary condition in prejudice reduction and the development of positive racial attitudes among ethnically and racially diverse groups of children and adolescents.” (Pica-Smith, Poynton). By growing up in interracial groups it lessens the probability of being prejudiced. “In an increasingly global and multicultural society, interethnic and interracial friendships offer important opportunities for children to learn about how children of differing ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds make meaning of the world. These relationships provide spaces in which children can explore and appreciate both the similarities and differences of their identities and experiences.” (Pica-Smith, Poynton). Without these interracial friendship groups the future generations will be extremely prejudice and will not succeed like they need to. With this one simple task people will be more educated and be more aware of their words, if they have friends in different cultures, races, and religions. Interracial groups promote child development without
The realization that their parents are not perfect and they very often point their parent’s faults. Adolescents tend to search for new adults, that are not as imperfect as their parents, with which to confide. These newfound confidants often are an adult to look up to or to fulfill the adolescents need for a "hero". The relationships with adults outside the family tend to broaden the experiences of mid-adolescent. This exposes them to new and unfamiliar situations and lifestyles, which may be frightening during these mid-adolescent ages. Adolescents will place their feelings and thoughts in a journal or diary. Adolescents frequently turn back to the family and appreciate their parents as best friends, as long as there is a mutual respect for each other. At the same time, the peer group diminishes and a few good friends replace the peer group (Kidsgrowth.com,
...tion to help children live a full fruitful life with limitless possibilities and to help break cycles that have been passed on from generation to generation. This group process can help facilitate better peer relationships, self-efficacy and assertiveness, drug resistance skills, social problem-solving skills, and promote family bonding between parents and children.
“Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit, because of someone’s version of your reality is not their reality” (Shannon L. Alder). Throughout teenage years, this is one of the most important life lessons that is learned, because peer pressure can cause you not to be able to find your true identity. For example, during my freshman year of high school; I was picked on by a student, because she was influenced by others. Peer pressure influences teens to trust their friend’s judgement and experiment with drugs and alcohol. Not only affecting themselves; but also the people around them.
Many adolescents display qualities of social interest (Ballou, 2002) such as self-worth, self-assurance, involvement in community, and encouragement of others. However, the adolescents who display traits of selfish tendencies, including the need to dominate, refusal to cooperate, desire to take not give, greater concern with self than community (Durbin, 2004), will be perceived as socially useless. Roger Ballou discusses this by stating some youth, “become discouraged either because of unfortunate life situations or despite the quality of their upbringing. Some teens become demoralized in their attempt to find their place in life and instead decide to pursue mistaken beliefs” (2002, p.
Teenagers become caught up with following peers, because the decision is made to become involved in experimental activities by choice. On the other hand, peer pressure in teens can allow mature growth in the student, because the individual can them become a leader within an environment in a positive manner. According to kidshealth.org, “Getting to know lots of different people-
Peer pressure is simply the influence people have on others who are on the same social level. It existed long before anyone pointed to it and gave it a name. The desire to be accepted by others is uniform in not only humans but in most other animals as well. Just like buffalo travel in herds and birds flock together, humans are known for their tendency to categorize themselves in groups.
Social media sites such as Facebook are one of the most popular social media sites that has 700,000-750,000 members joining each day. Connecting with peers shouldn’t be a problem. It’s as easy typing the peers name push search, and some suggestions come up and find your peer you’re looking for and shoot them a message instantly with social media manly targeting young people such as teenagers. Facebook has made it so easy for teens to interact and engage with their peers. It allows teens to come into contact with long, lost relatives and reunite with them. Facebook is a virtual site = which gives teens an endless possibility to engage with peers, family, of maybe even people who they have never meet allowing then to interact making new friends.
During adolescence, teens are engaged in forming their position in society and in developing social connections with their peers. The transition from childhood to adolescence can place them in a distressful and unstable status like social isolation and loneliness. Teens may begin to feel confused or insecure about themselves and how they fit in to society. Teens may experiment with different roles, activities and behaviors when they seek to establish a sense of self. According to Erikson, this is important process in forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.