Peer Influence Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence Friendship Play and Leisure Aging and the Social World Sociocultural Influences.

Peer Influence Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Friendship

Play and Leisure

Aging and the Social World

Sociocultural Influences

Peer Group Functions Peers — individuals about the same age or maturity level Peer groups provide source of information and comparison

about world outside the family Peer influences and evaluations can be negative or positive

___________________________________________________ Early Childhood-

◦ Frequency of peer interaction increases

Middle/Late Childhood-◦ Children spend increasing time in peer interaction

Average time spent-◦ 10% of time spent with peers at age 2◦ 20% of time spent with peers at age 4◦ 40% of time spent with peers during ages 7-11

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Social Cognition

◦ 5 steps in processing social information- Decode social cues Interpret Search for response Select optimal response Enact

◦ Affects ability to get along with peers

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Peer Statuses

Popular

Average

Neglected

Frequently nominated as a best friend; rarely disliked by peers

Rejected

Controversial

Receive average number of positive and negative nominations from peers

Infrequently nominated as a best friend but not disliked by peers

Infrequently nominated as a best friend; actively disliked by peers

Frequently nominated as someone's best friend and as being disliked

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Neglected and Rejected Children

Neglected children:◦ Low rates of peer interaction◦ Often described as shy

Rejected children:◦ Have more serious adjustment problems◦ Less likely to engage in classroom

participation◦ Show a desire to avoid school◦ More likely to be lonely

Not all rejected children are aggressive

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Bullying

Physical or verbal behavior with harmful intent

Significant numbers victimized- ◦ Boys and younger middle school students◦ Victims of bullies reported more loneliness

and difficulty in making friends◦ Those who did the bullying more likely

to have low grades, smoke and drink alcohol

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Gender and Peer Relations

Gender composition◦ From age 3, children prefer same-sex groups

Group size◦ From age 6, boys prefer larger groups

Interaction in same-sex groups◦ Boys: organized group games, rough-and-

tumble◦ Girls: collaborative discourse

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Adolescent Peer Relations

Peer pressure - peers play powerful roles Cliques and crowds — to be liked and included Peers play important role in individual development

in all cultures Cross-cultural comparisons

Peer Relations in Childhood and Adolescence

Cliques and CrowdsCliques

◦Average 5 to 6 people◦Usually same sex, age◦Formed from shared activities,

friendship

Crowds

◦Larger than cliques ◦Usually formed based on reputation◦May not spend much time together

Friendship

Friendship during Adolescence

Girls more intimate with friends than boys, more open in self-disclosures

More risk of delinquent behavior when friends are older, boys focus on power and excitement

Early maturers more at risk for

delinquent behavior

Friendship

Adult Friendship

Gender Differences-◦ Women

More close friends More intimate; talk more

◦ Men More competitive Engage in activities, especially outdoors

◦ More cross-gender friendships than childhood but still prefer same-gender

Friendship

Friendship in Late Adulthood

Important role; tend to narrow their social network Choose close friends over new friends Gender differences-

◦ Women: more depressed without a best friend; no change in desire for friends

◦ Men: decreased desire for new and close friends in older adulthood

Friendship

Childhood

Functions of play-

◦ Health

◦ Affiliation with peers and constraints

◦ Cognitive development

◦ Exploration

◦ Tension release, master anxiety and conflict

Play and Leisure

Types of Play

Play and Leisure

Onlooker

Parallel

Solitary

UnoccupiedChild not engaging in play as commonly understood; might stand in one spot

Associative

Cooperative

Child watches other children play

Child plays separately from others, but in manner that mimics their play

Play that involves social interaction with little or no organizationPlay that involves social interaction in group with sense of organized activity

Child plays alone, independently of others

Stereotyping of Older Adults

Ageism:◦ Prejudice against other people because of age,

especially prejudice against older adults Personal consequences of negative stereotyping

can be serious

Aging and the Social World

Individualism and Collectivism

Individualism-◦ Giving priority to personal goals rather than to group

goals; emphasizing values that serve the self.

Collectivism-◦ Emphasizing values that serve the group by

subordinating personal goals to preserve group integrity, interdependence of members, and harmonious relationships.

Sociocultural Influences

Influences on Rites of Passage

The media and culture- ◦ Reduced parents’ control of information◦ Greatest influence in the U.S.

Television-◦ greater impact on children◦ Positive and negative effects◦ Violence and aggression, video games

Computer and the internet-◦ Highest risks to children and adolescents◦ Effects on aging adults

Sociocultural Influences

What Is Socioeconomic Status?

SES-◦ Grouping of people with similar occupational,

educational, and economic characteristics◦ Number depends on community’s size,

complexity◦ Low SES and middle SES

Each could have many subcategories SES variations in neighborhoods, schools

◦ Each level views education differently

Sociocultural Influences

Family Socioeconomic Variations

Higher SES parents:◦ Stress ‘initiative’ and

delayed gratification◦ Children are nearly

equal participants in home rules, etc.

◦ Less likely to use physical punishment

◦ Less directive, more conversational

Sociocultural Influences

• Lower SES parents:– Stress conformity– Exercise authority– Use physical punishment– More directive, use less

conversation with children

Who is Poor? Women — feminization of poverty

◦ Over 1/3 of single mothers; 10% of single fathers

Families and poverty

◦ Economic pressure linked with parenting

◦ Benefits to parents help children

Poverty, aging, and ethnicity

◦ 10-12% overall, more among women and ethnic

minorities; more than 25% of older women

◦ Ethnic diversity continues to increase

Sociocultural Influences

Ethnicity

Ethnicity and families-◦ Families vary by size, structure, composition, levels of

income and education, kinship networks, and how family monitors/regulates behaviors

◦ More single families in some groups◦ Ethnic minority parents are less educated◦ Children experience double disadvantage

Do not escape prejudice and discrimination Stressful effects of poverty felt

Sociocultural Influences

Ethnicity and Aging

Double jeopardy-

◦ Ageism and racism

Health and wealth decrease faster for older ethnic minorities than for elderly white Americans

Coping mechanisms-◦ Extended family networks◦ Ethnic neighborhoods and groups◦ Churches and organizations

Sociocultural Influences