Describe and Discuss Psychological Research Relating to Development in Peer Relationships

When children enter school their contact with other children increases. The proportion of social activities that occurs in interaction with peers (as opposed to other contacts) continues to increase throughout childhood. By age 11, 50% of the individual's social activity occurs with peers (Hartup, 1983). By adolescence, time spent interacting with peers exceeds time spent interacting with the parent or any other socialization agent (Larson & Richards, 1991).
This essay will begin by defining the word peers, before going on to discuss what is so special about peer relationships and describe the difference between friends and non-friends, and then outline and evaluate the research relating to development in peer relationships.
By definition, peers are individuals who are close in age to one another, closely usually than siblings. Thus, in contrast with their status in most of their other relationships, especially those with adults, children are relatively equal in terms of power when they interact with their peers (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985).
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