Peer group

Peer group

A peer group is a group of approximately the same age, social status, and interestsSiegler, Robert (2006). How Childred Develop, Exploring Child Develop Student Media Tool Kit & Scientific American Reader to Accompany How Children Develop. New York: Worth Publishers. ISBN 0716761130.] . Generally, people are relatively equal in terms of power when they interact with peers.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychologists Vygotsky, Piaget, and Sullivan 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' 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 or consuming alcohol underage are two of the best known examples.

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.

References

Further reading

* An evolutionary perspective on children's motivation in the peer group. "International Journal of Behavioral Development, 19(1)," 53-73. [http://www.csulb.edu/~kmacd/ISBD-Friends.pdf Full text]
* Bona Fide Group Theory: A descriptive format for understanding group dynamics. [http://www.nancytobler.com/index.php?title=Bona_Fide_Group_Theory Theory Overview]


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  • peer-group — peer group …   Dictionary of sociology

  • peer group — ➔ group * * * peer group UK US noun [C] ► a group of people who are similar in age, education, position, etc.: »Brands are a way of identifying with a social or economic peer group. ► a group of companies that offer similar products or services:… …   Financial and business terms

  • Peer-Group —   (Gleichaltrigengruppe): v. a. in der Jugendsoziologie verwendete Bezeichnung für außerfamiliäre Gruppen etwa gleichaltriger Kinder und Jugendlicher. Den Peer Groups kommt eine wichtige Funktion während der Ablösung von der Familie und die… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • peer group — peer groups N COUNT Your peer group is the group of people you know who are the same age as you or who have the same social status as you. It is important for a manager to be able to get the support of his peer group. ...peer group pressure …   English dictionary

  • peer group — n a group of people, especially people who are the same age, social class etc as yourself ▪ the TV shows that are popular with his peer group …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • peer group — peer ,group noun count a group of people of the same age, social class, or education: The marketing study dealt mainly with an adolescent peer group …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • peer group — peer′ group n. psl soc a group of friends or associates, usu. of similar background, social status, and esp. age, who are likely to influence a person s beliefs and behavior • Etymology: 1940–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • peer group — ► NOUN ▪ a group of people of approximately the same age, status, and interests …   English terms dictionary

  • peer group — n. all those people of about the same age, status, etc. in a society, regarded as forming a sociological group with a homogeneous system of values …   English World dictionary

  • peer group — noun contemporaries of the same status (Freq. 1) • Hypernyms: ↑coevals, ↑contemporaries, ↑generation • Member Meronyms: ↑peer, ↑equal, ↑match, ↑compeer …   Useful english dictionary

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