Chapter 8 Ecology of the Peer Group HD 4 Chapter 8 Ecology of the Peer Group

Peer Group “A microsystem that comprises relationships, roles, and activities.” “Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.” Aristotle

Reflection Moment What were your peer groups like in elementary school, middle school, and high school?

Peers and the Family The sense of belonging develops first within the family. Parent-child relationships from infancy to middle childhood, in particular, influence peer relationships. Children model parental interactions with their friends.

Peers and Parenting Styles Parenting style influences children’s competence in interacting with peers. Authoritative (democratic) style of parenting produces social and behavioral competence and confidence in children (high competence in social interaction).

Functions of the peer group Peer relationships contribute to the self-concept at various stages of development. Peer provide empathy and support for one another when their actions conflict with the demands of adults. The peer group plays a powerful role in shaping each individual’s identity.

Peers Through The Stages Preschool/Early Childhood Adults need to provide opportunities for social interaction to enhance social interactions. Children have an opportunity to assume a variety of roles that weren’t available in the family context.

Terms Children under age 7 do not have the cognitive ability to be aware of peer pressure to conform. It is difficult to see the other’s point of view. SOCIAL COGNITION Children 7-11 are in the concrete operations stage of cognitive development. They often make illogical assumptions about situations and people: ASSUMPTIVE REALITIES

7-11 Years Children 7-11 assume they are clever. Children have too much faith in their reasoning ability. COGNITIVE CONCEIT Around age 11, children enter the sage of formal operations and become capable of logical thought. Children around age 11 begin to believe that others are as concerned with their behavior and appearance as they are themselves. IMAGINARY AUDIENCE

Middle Childhood (6-12) Adults aren’t needed to structure social interactions. Opportunities for social interaction increase in daily life. They are more dependent on recognition and approval of peers than adults. Parents that took an active role in arranging and organizing peer relations tend to develop closer ties with peers. Peer group provides opportunities for greater independence than the family. Peer group enhances the sense of self during these years. Peers provide models for what pre-teens can become.

Middle Childhood Continued “Children become most susceptible to the influence of peers in middle childhood and less conforming in adolescence. Prosocial conformity peaks in the sixth grade and anti social conformity peaks in the ninth grade. Sixth-ninth grade exhibited the most conforming behavior.

Ages 13 and Up Prefer to hang-out Appearance and connections with friends are the most important. In early teen years, activities are mostly with same sex peers but changes as they get older.

Teens (13-18) One or two best friends are important for most intimate social interactions. They also do things together with 6-10 peers. Peer group activities are escalating. Often there are differences between the values of the family and the peer group.

Adolescence (13-18) Continued Teens turn to parents for scholastic/occupational goals and decisions for the future. Parental values dominate with moral issues. Teens turn to peers for clothing/social activities/dating/recreation and decisions in the present. Peer values dominate with appearance.

Parenting styles influence child-peer relationships Authoritative (democratic): Associate with friends with similar values, not faced with negative peer influences as much. Authoritarian: Kids alienate themselves from parental values and are attracted to peers for understanding and acceptance. Permissive: Teens attracted to antisocial peer groups. Uninvolved: Teens often have frequent antisocial behavior with peers, poor self-regulation, and low academic achievement.

Peers Peer influence is bidirectional. The members shape the group and the group shapes the members. Experiences with peers enable children to acquire a range of skills, attitudes, and roles that influence their adaptation throughout life.

Peers and the Family Babies who are insecurely attached (from parental rejection or inconsistent care) tend to avoid peer relationships. Babies who form a secure attachment during their first year tend to be socially involved with their peers in the preschool years.

Looking Glass Self/Generalized Other By interacting socially with others, children derive an opinion of themselves.

Peer Groups Peer groups satisfy certain basic human needs like the need to belong to a group and the need to develop a sense of self. Peers are equals, they are usually of the same gender and age and have similar social statuses and interests. Statuses remain fairly stable in the group.

Peer Groups It appears that members are equal in the peer group, however, some members are more equal than others. Dominant children in a group are imitated more often by other members.

Peer Relations The child’s peer group is a “sensitive barometer” of present and future problems. Individuals who do not have normal peer relations are affected in their later psychological development (linked to neurotic and psychotic behavior and greater tendency to drop out of school.

How Do Peer Groups Influence Behavior? Reinforcement Modeling Punishment (rejection or exclusion) Apprenticeship (learn from the expert)

Peer Groups and Gender Gender roles are also taught by peer groups Even at age 2, peer pressure was observed for appropriate gender-type play

Play Is significant to development Today, children spend less time in spontaneously organized play than in previous generations. Games reflect the culture.

Stages of Play Solitary: Infants and toddlers Onlooker: 2 years old…Watch and initiate conversations possibly..no actual social engagement in the play Parallel: 2-3 years…Play alone but mimics the behavior of others. Toys are similar. Associative: 3-4 years…Children interact socially and communicate but little or no organization Cooperative: 4-5 years…Children interact in groups…Organized…Has a purpose

Problems There is a link between problems with peer interactions in childhood and adjustment difficulties in the teen and adult years.

Sociometry: Measures the patterns of acceptance, neglect, or rejecting among members of the group. Sociometry results can help adults facilitate inclusion of all children in the group.

Sociotherapy An intervention to enable children who have trouble making friends to learn how to relate to others.

Peer Relationships Peer sociability is influenced by relationships with caregivers. Successful social relationships depend on the ability to take the other point of view, the ability to empathize, and the ability to communicate.

How Can We Help Rejected Children? Encourage participation in extra-curricular activities Have parents monitor social interactions Provide opportunities to play with younger children Observe others interact successfully Role play situations

Who is the Most Popular? Physically attractive children are more popular than those who are not. Athletic ability is related to popularity. Intelligence is related to popularity. Muscular boys are more popular than those that aren’t muscular.

What about the unpopular? Children may be neglected or rejected due to their shyness or lack of social skills. Antisocial behavior is the most consistent correlate of peer rejection. Family problems can have damaging effects on peer relations.

MORALITY The peer group helps children in the process of developing morals but the level of moral development is greatly influenced by parenting styles. Morals distinguish right from wrong. Values determine what is worthwhile.

Sexual Behavior Parental influences on sexual behavior are believed to outweigh those of peers and the media if there is a feeling of support and open communication. As socio-economic status decreases, sexual activity has been found to increase in teens.

Bullying Requires adult intervention strategies. Bullies tend to share certain characteristics but tend to have a relatively high self-concept. Victims tend to have a relatively negative self-concept. As early as 18 months, children could understand how to hurt or comfort others.

Delinquency The single most consistent characteristic of delinquents is lack of support and socialization by their families. Personality factors can also contribute to delinquency. Microsystems under stress are related to increases in delinquency rates. The stability of the home is an important protector against pressure toward deviant behavior.

Gangs A group of people who form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in unlawful or criminal activities. If the needs of children are not met by parents, teens will turn to their peers. Gangs provide companionship, guidance, excitement and protection.