Generally, peer group means a group of equals. But sociologists apply it to groups made up of persons who are of the same age and often to groups of children or of adolescents. They play a normal part in the process of socialization as they provide experiences to those who are growing up, a type that are not available in their own families.
The adolescents take solace in interacting with their peers and they prefer to keep longer time with them than with their parents. The peer group therefore has tremendous influence on the adolescent’s pattern of behavior especially on the interest, attitudes, value system, emotional expressions, and interaction patterns and so on. However, the peer group’s norms/standards in many cases may run foul to that of the community or society at large. Thus, when the adolescent falls into bad groups, his/her home background notwithstanding, the chances are high that his/her social behavior would change for bad rather than for good. As expressed by Steinberg (1996), these peers whom adolescents look to for approval and supports have been noted as inevitable and necessary.
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