The Role of Peer Relationships in Social Development

2439 Words10 Pages
Critically evaluate the role of peer relationships in social Development Children’s relationships with parents and peers are interactive and by the time they get older they form an increasingly varied array of interpersonal relationships (Pianta & Stuhlman, 2004). Relationships are measured by the way in which two or more individuals are connected, or the state of being connected. Is it a connection where individuals conditionally share experiences, interests, attitudes, feelings, and unconditionally deliver developmental consequences in forming personality (Parker, Rubin, Price & DeRosier, 1995). At the same time, a connection shared with warmth, support and feelings of affection, by two or more individuals, stands as a friendship. What starts early in infancy, through observing others, reaching and smiling, changes throughout childhood and again during adolescence. For these reasons, experiences shared with other peers play a particularly significant role in an individual life. Therefore, this essay will evaluate the role of peer relationships in social development focused at the stage of childhood. It will explore factors which influence peer sociability and it will evaluate the consequence of interacting with children equal in status, and by the same token, the outcomes of interacting with older peers. Moreover, it will evaluate children’s social status, the extent in which one individual is liked by another and last, it will examine gender roles in the context of peer sociability. Peer acceptance and friendships are similar yet different constructs within youth development. Where peer acceptance represents social status including the level of popularity within a group, a friendship represents mutual respect and appreciation which is received by the group (Parker et al., 1995). Similarities are that both raise self-esteem and develop good
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