Peer Groups/Networks

The Peer Group As children grow older, forces outside of the family increasingly influence them. Children begin to relate more and more to their peer groups. Peer Group: A primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal age and similar social characteristics.

The Peer Group Peer groups are particularly influential during the pre-teenage and early teenage years. Winning peer acceptance is a powerful force in the lives of young people. To win this acceptance: Adopt the values and standards of the peer group. Shape oneself into the kind of person the group will accept.

Peer-Group Socialization vs. Socialization Within the Family The norms and values imparted by the family usually focus on the larger culture. Parents often become alarmed if they come to believe that the norms and values of the peer group are more important to their children than those of society as a whole. In peer groups, the focus is the subculture of the group. Peer-group goals are sometimes at odds with the goals of the larger society.

Social Groups

Primary Groups Small, less specialized where groups engage face- to-face Emotion based interaction for a length of time (family, sports team, youth group)

Secondary Groups Large, specialized group that engage more impersonally, goal-oriented relationships for limited amount of time. Classmates, teammates Can become primary

Ingroup v. Outgroup Ingroup-Group a person belongs feels a sense of identity with each person Displays of favoritism Outgroup-group where person does not belong, towards which feels competiveness/hostility Groups help establish identity and self-worth

Reference Group Influences person’s behavior whether a member of group or not Can be in or out group(can be positive/negative)

Social Network A set of relationships that links an individual to other individuals.