ECOLOGY OF PEER GROUP

By: Cyprian Ndive

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION DEFINITION OF PEER GROUP TYPES OF PEER GROUPS FUCTIONS PEER GROUPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS ADVANTAGES OF PEER GROUPS DISADVANTAGES OF PEER GROUPS PEER GROUP STRUCTURE CONCLUSION REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

The family provides many, if not most of the socialization experiences of early childhood. As children grow older, forces outside of the family increasingly influence them. In particular, children begin to relate more and more to their peer groups.

DEFINITION OF PEER GROUP

A peer group is a primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal age, background and similar social characteristics

TYPES OF PEER GROUPS The Elites: The Elites category was recognized across studies as being a high

status group. The Athletes: Athlete group status was associated with being popular. The Academics: Academics” as a peer group more devoted to academic

studies and academic-related extracurricular activities than to any other activities.

The Deviants: As opposed to the Elites, Athletes, and Academics, the Deviants cared least about schoolwork, school extracurricular activities, or future careers. They neither excelled academically nor athletically

FUCTIONS PEER GROUPS Peer groups can also serve as a venue for teaching members gender roles.

Through gender-role socialization, group members learn about sex differences, and social and cultural expectations.

It’s also an imperative supportive feature in shaping an individuals self-esteem and self-valuation.

Peer groups can have great influence or peer pressure on each other's gender role behavior, depending on the amount of pressure.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS

The peer group serves as a strong support to teenagers providing them with a sense of belonging and a feeling of strength and power.

To gain acceptance by a group, younger teenagers tend to confirm completely in such things as mode of dress, hairstyle, taste in music and vocabulary.

ADVANTAGES OF PEER GROUPS

Groups of friends who volunteer their time, have ambitious school or work related goals and positive relationships with family, then you are likely to hold the same values and beliefs. In addition, having high-quality friendships sets you up for success in the social world.

The more positive your relationships are with your peer group, the more likely you are to have good relationships in the future.

DISADVANTAGES OF PEER GROUPS peers don't usually "pressure” to do anything and thus rather change their

behavior because they want to fit in, it still exerts an influence. If you start hanging around with a bad crowd, their values and beliefs have the

potential to negatively affect your behavior.

PEER GROUP STRUCTURE

ppdhj

Peers crowds

cliques

friends

PEERS

CROWDS

CLIQUES

FRIENDS

CONCLUSION

Peer group, both social and primary groups most importantly has influenced personality development across life long process, manifested in different form and life phases. In addition it has been an ecology that affect teenage development

_______________________________________________________________LINK: https://youtu.be/BLF-gRiqqa0

REFERENCES Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens

through the twenties. American Psychologist. 2000;55:469–480. Dolcini MM, Adler NE. Perceived competencies, peer group affiliation, and risk

behavior among early adolescents. Health Psychology. 1994;13(6):496–506. Downs RD, Rose SR. The relationship of adolescent peer groups to the

incidence of psychosocial problems. Adolescence. 1991;26(102):473–492.