Peer Relationships: Difficulties During Adolescence

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Difficulties during adolescence can be overwhelming for anyone. One thing is certain, though, adolescents do not go through it alone. They have their peers, groups, and friends to help them through it. Peer relationships are an important function of adolescence. There are different types of peer relationships and they all present negative and positive outcomes as can be shown in this essay.
All relationships start with peers. Peers are individuals who are similar in age and maturity level. Peer interaction is a fundamental part of adolescence. These interactions differ from person to person and situation to situation. A shy adolescent will have more trouble socializing with peers than an outgoing one. Individuals may not act the same way towards a friend at a sporting event as
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Cliques and crowds are two forms of groups. Cliques are small groups that usually consist of individuals of the same sex and age. They can form between individuals with similar interests or purely from friendship. Crowds are larger, less personal, and usually based on reputation. These would be the jocks, populars, or the druggies. Being members of crowds can have different effects depending on the group an individual is a part of. For example, an individual who identifies as a popular tends to have less externalizing problems than one who identifies as a druggie. This trend is also apparent when it comes to adolescent self-esteem (Santrock, 2014).
The final group, which is the most positive one, is youth organizations. There are hundreds of youth organizations and they have many benefits. Adolescents who join are more likely to have higher self-esteem, be better educated, and enroll in college. These groups allow adolescents to practice better interpersonal and organizational skills which can be essential for adulthood. Partaking in youth organizations can also increase achievement and decrease delinquency (Santrock,

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