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A peer group is a group of approximately the same age, social status
Social status

In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . The stratification system, which is the system of distributing rewards to the members of society, determines social status....
, and interests. Generally, people are relatively equal in terms of power when they interact with peers.

lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m1186467",this)' onMouseout='hide("m1186467")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Developmental_psychology">Developmental psychologists
Developmental psychology

Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the science study of systematic psychology changes that occur in human beings over the course of the life span....
 Vygotsky, Piaget
Piaget

Piaget may refer to:* Edouard Piaget , Swiss entomologist* Jean Piaget , Swiss developmental theorist* Sidney Paget , British illustrator* Piaget SA, a Swiss watchmaker and jeweler...
, and Sullivan
Sullivan

Sullivan may refer to:...
 have all argued that peer relationships provide a unique context for cognitive, social, and emotional development, with equality, reciprocity, cooperation, and intimacy maturing and enhancing children's reasoning abilities and concern for others.






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A peer group is a group of approximately the same age, social status
Social status

In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . The stratification system, which is the system of distributing rewards to the members of society, determines social status....
, and interests. Generally, people are relatively equal in terms of power when they interact with peers.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychologists
Developmental psychology

Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the science study of systematic psychology changes that occur in human beings over the course of the life span....
 Vygotsky, Piaget
Piaget

Piaget may refer to:* Edouard Piaget , Swiss entomologist* Jean Piaget , Swiss developmental theorist* Sidney Paget , British illustrator* Piaget SA, a Swiss watchmaker and jeweler...
, and Sullivan
Sullivan

Sullivan may refer to:...
 have all argued that peer relationships provide a unique context for cognitive, social, and emotional development, with equality, reciprocity, cooperation, and intimacy maturing and enhancing children's reasoning abilities and concern for others. Modern research echoes these sentiments, showing that social and emotional gains are indeed provided by peer interaction.

Peer pressure

The term 'peer pressure
Peer pressure

Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conformity to the group....
' is often used to describe instances where an individual feels indirectly pressured into changing their behaviour to match that of their peers. Taking up smoking
Tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant, most often in the form of a cigarette. People may smoke casually for pleasure, habitually to satisfy an addiction to the nicotine present in tobacco and to the act of smoking, or in response to social pressure....
 or consuming alcohol
Alcohol

In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl Functional group is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group....
 underage are two of the best known examples. In spite of the often negative connotations of the term, peer pressure can be used positively.

Finance

A peer group in finance is any equity, mutual fund, or financial instrument that relates to another equity, mutual fund, or financial instrument within its respective asset class in terms of investment style, industry, or underlying asset composition.

Further reading

  • An evolutionary perspective on children's motivation in the peer group. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 19(1), 53-73.
  • Bona Fide Group Theory: A descriptive format for understanding group dynamics
    Group dynamics

    Group dynamics is the study of groups, and also a general term for group processes. Relevant to the fields of psychology, sociology, and communication studies, a group is two or more individuals who are connected to each other by social relationships....
    .