©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 8 Ecology of the Peer Group

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods. Aristotle

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peers as Socializing Agents

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peers Individuals who are of approximately the same gender, age, and social status and who share interests

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peers Satisfy certain belonging needs Are often preferred to other socializing agents Influence social, cognitive, psychological development

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peer Interactions Developmental Stage Belonging Needs and Socialization Sense of Self Infancy/ToddlerhoodAwareness of peers Relationships become more reciprocal Early ChildhoodParents facilitateChildren play alone and together in groups Middle ChildhoodOpportunities for social interaction increase Peers become important source of self-confirmation AdolescenceGrowth of relationships and closeness Peer activities escalate

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peer Group Socializing Mechanisms Reinforcement Modeling Punishment Apprenticeship

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Modeling The extent to which modeling influences behavior depends upon the – Situation – Model – Observer

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Macrosystem Influences

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Terms Morality of Constraint – Behavior based on respect for persons in authority Morality of Cooperation – Behavior based on mutual understanding between equals

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chronosystem Influences

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Play: Parten Play CategoryCharacteristics SolitaryChild plays alone and independently OnlookerChild watches other children play ParallelChild plays alone, but with toys like those other children are using AssociativeSocial interaction and communication with little or no organization CooperativeSocial interaction in a group

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Play: Sutton-Smith Play CategoryCharacteristics ImitativeBaby imitates parent; Children imitate roles ExploratoryExploring- taste, touch, manipulation TestingTesting abilities and emotions Model-BuildingBuilding- putting elements together in new ways

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peer Group Interaction

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Selman & Selman Developmental Stage Friendship Early ChildhoodMomentary playmateship Early to Middle Childhood One-way assistance Middle ChildhoodTwo-way, fair-weather cooperation Middle Childhood- Adolescence Intimate, mutually shared relationships AdolescenceAutonomous interdependent friendships

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Acceptance Accepted and rejected children tend to have different characteristics.

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Terms Sociometry – Techniques used to measure patterns of acceptance, neglect, and rejection among members of a group Sociotherapy – An intervention to help children who have trouble making and keeping friends learn to relate to others

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Group Dynamics/ Social Hierarchies

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Peer Group Dynamics Groups utilize various methods to include or exclude members. Bullies and victims tend to have different characteristics.

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Gang A group of people who form an alliance for a common purpose and engage in unlawful or criminal activity

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Gangs Gangs give members companionship, guidance, excitement, and identity. Gang members have significantly lower levels of self-esteem than their non-gang peers. Gang members can name fewer adult role models in their families and communities.

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Mesosystem Influences

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Adult Mediation How adults mediate, or structure, groups influences children’s behavior – Frustration and competition lead to hostility between groups. – Competition between groups fosters cohesiveness within groups. – Intergroup hostility can be reduced by setting up a superordinate, or common, goal.

©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Sports Organized interactions of children in competitive and/or cooperative team or individual enjoyable physical activities