Peer Relationships

Question 1

What are the functions of peer groups? (5)

Answer 1

• feelings of equality - leads to expressing feelings and views more freely
• emotional support
• affirm individual members as distinctive personalities
• opportunities for romantic contacts and friendships
• provide a source of info about the world

Question 2

How do adolescents learn through peer relationships?

Answer 2

• learn symmetrical reciprocity mode of relationships
• explore principles of fairness and justice by working through disagreements
• observe peers’ interests and perspectives to smoothly integrate themselves into activities
• learn to be skilled and sensitive partners in intimate relationships

Question 3

Describe negative peer relations

Answer 3

• rejected or overlooked by peers leads to feeling lonely and hostile
• hanging out with antisocial peers can lead to substance abuse

Question 4

Define homophily

Answer 4

the tendency of people to bond with similar others

Question 5

How does peer pressure affect adolescents through the ages

Answer 5

11-13 year olds - conform to peers, especially to antisocial standards

14-18 year olds - develop the ability to stand up for what one believes and resist peer pressure

Question 6

What kind of adolescents are most likely to conform?

Answer 6

• those uncertain about their identity
• those with low self esteem
• those with high social anxiety

Question 7

Define sociometric status

Answer 7

the extent to which adolescents are liked/disliked by their peer group

Question 8

What are the 5 types of peer statuses?

Answer 8

Popular
Average
Neglected
Rejected
Controversial

Question 9

What is a conglomerate strategy?
What does it consist of? (4)

Answer 9

use of a combination of techniques to improve adolescents’ social skills

• modeling
• discussion
• reasoning
• reinforcement

Question 10

What are Sullivan’s ideas on changes in friendship in early adolescence?

Answer 10

• friends are important in shaping development
• friends are important for meeting social needs
• the need for intimacy intensifies, motivating adolescents to seek out close friends
• if adolescents fail to forge close friendships, they experience loneliness and reduced sense of self worth

Question 11

What are the 8 functions of romantic relationships?

Answer 11

• recreation
• status and achievement
• part of socialization process
• learning about intimacy
• sexual experimentation and exploration
• companionship
• identity formation and development
• mate sorting and selection

Question 12

Compare heterosexual and queer relationships (3)

Answer 12

• legal/social contexts of marriage create more barriers for queer couples
• queer couples are more flexible in their gender roles
• queer couples have a higher average level of relationship quality