Humans learn by socialization, and peer groups play a significant role in development during early childhood. Parental influence helps embed core values, but the influence of a peer group is powerful. Children often socialize with their peers without the dynamic of parental authority.
Positive peer influence
Children feel a need to be accepted and recognized by peers. Sharon Powell of the Princeton Center for Leadership Training cited research discovering peer acceptance influences feelings of security, perception of importance and independent decision-making. Powell also noted research supporting the theory that happiness and adjustment of young people depends significantly on the development of peer group relationships. More recent research performed in 1990 by Joy Dryfoos, an independent researcher, showed that the most successful prevention methods used by schools in discouraging negative behavior employed older peers to influence their younger peers, serving as tutors, mentors and peer leaders.
Negative peer influence
A negative peer group can lead to poor behavior being perceived as acceptable. Carol Wong and Erika Taylor, researchers based at the University of Michigan, performed studies in 1996 that researched the effects of peer influences and negative peer orientation. The results showed there was a significant effect of negative peer orientation on the relationship between peers' positive academic influence and the value of school. Negative peer orientation was also a significant moderator of the relationship between peers' delinquent influence and the value of school.
Physical Activity
Peer influence contains a large element of mimicking and performing similar behavior. For this reason, peer influence can cause a change in specific lifestyle factors such as physical activity. For example, if peers regularly play sports or join the same team, physical activity level will increase. The health benefits suggest this is a positive aspect of peer influence. Sarah-Jeanne Salvy and a group of researchers from the University at Buffalo performed a study in 2007 of peer influence on children's physical activity. Results showed that children were more likely to report intense physical activity when in the presence of peers. The social factor of playing together is also more likely to make physical activity a positive experience than solitary exercise.
Types
Peer group types have been shown to influence early child development at differing levels. The Medical News website noted studies exploring group influence on child development. The results summarized that peer groups perceived as cool and socially accepted were more likely to be influenced by their friends.
Benefits
Peer groups play an important role in child development and should not be avoided for fear of negative influence. Socializing with a range of friends is important for the development and independence of a child. Peer acceptance plays an important role in the growing process.
