Adolescent peer groups provide support as teens assimilate into adulthood . ... Peers, particularly group members, become important social referents. Peer groups also influence individual members’ attitudes and behaviours on many cultural and social issues, such as: drug use, violence, and academic achievement.
Why are peer groups important?
Peers, or a group of people who have similar interests, age, background, or social status, serve as an important source of information, feedback, and support to individuals as they develop a sense of self . Peers help socialize an individual by reinforcing or punishing behaviors or interpersonal interactions.
Why is the peer group so important in adolescence?
Although adolescents tend to engage in risky behavior more around peers than alone, peer groups can provide an arena in which adolescents can learn, clarify and maintain norms for social behaviors as well as practice these behaviors, promoting socioemotional competence during a time when youth are attempting to form ...
Are peers important to adolescents?
A teen’s peers can be part of the most important social relationships in a teen’s life , often contributing more to his/her development than families do. Strong peer relationships help teens achieve two of their most critical tasks: finding independence from their parents and developing their own personal identities.
What is the most important function of the adolescent peer group?
Peer relationships help teens achieve two of the most critical tasks of their adolescence: gaining independence from their parents and developing their own personal identities . As teens bond with their peers, they begin to withdraw more from their parents’ social control over them.
What are negative effects of peer groups?
Negative effects of peer pressure include: pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes or drugs . pressure to engage in risk taking behaviours . distraction from schoolwork .
What is the role of peer group in education?
Peer group education programmes enable young people to deal with problems that affect them . The process can be partly social, establishing forums for young people to explore new frontiers, helping to solve problems and let people in power gain an understanding of the point of view of young people.
How does peer group influence your life?
Peers, particularly group members, become important social referents. Peer groups also influence individual members’ attitudes and behaviours on many cultural and social issues , such as: drug use, violence, and academic achievement. and even the development and expression of prejudice.
How does peer influence affect students?
How Peer Influence During Adolescence Affects Student Decision Making. Peers shape our world throughout our lives in a variety of ways but for no demographic more than adolescents. Peer influence can dictate the colleges students attend, the risky behavior they engage in, and their academic achievement .
How peers can influence your behavior?
Peers may strongly determine preference in the way of dressing, speaking , using illicit substances, sexual behaviour, adopting and accepting violence, adopting criminal and anti-social behaviours and in many other areas of the adolescent’s life (Padilla, Walker & Bean, 2009; Tomé, Matos & Diniz, 2008).
What are 4 types of peer relationships?
Three types of peer coworker relationships were examined, including 1) information peer relationships, acquaintances characterized by low levels of intimate communication, 2) collegial peer relationships , combinations of a friend and an acquaintance characterized by moderate levels of intimate communication, and 3) ...
Is it important to be accepted by your peers?
Peer acceptance and relationships are important to children’s social and emotional development . Peer acceptance and friendship provide a wide range of learning and development opportunities for children. ... They also allow for self-exploration, emotional growth, and moral and ethical development.
What are functions of peer groups?
- Providing Primary Status:
- Providing norms for governing behaviour:
- Facilitating emancipation from the family:
- The peer group as a testing ground:
- Peers provide partners for practicing existing social skills and trying out new ones.
- Peers socialize with one another:
What are the types of peer group?
- Coworkers.
- Extracurricular clubs at school (cheerleaders, drama club, chorus, and dance clubs)
- Sports teams.
- Marathon runners.
- Members of religious groups.
What is an example of a peer group?
Peer groups consist of same-aged individuals who share similar interests and are a part of the same social class. An example of a peer group is a soccer team . Peer groups are very influential on childhood and adolescent social development, with peer group influence being at its highest during adolescence.
How can you avoid bad peer groups?
- Pay attention to how you feel. ...
- Plan ahead. ...
- Talk to the person who is pressuring, let him or her know how it makes you feel and tell the person stop.
- Have a secret code to communicate with parents. ...
- Give an excuse. ...
- Have friends with similar values and beliefs.
