As a socializing agency, a peer group consists of four main characteristics. The first characteristic consists of the age range and status of those who are part of peer groups. Children who are too young or too old will not be considered to be part of the group because only those who share the same age are allowed. The second characteristic involves the status individuals hold in peer groups because of the power that some have over others. In these peer groups, the group is centered around the concerns, interests and worries members share given their age and stage of development. Unlike adults who have the responsibility of having to learn how to fit in society and be law abiding citizens, members of peer groups do not have to worry about having this responsibility. One of the benefits that result from being part of peer groups are the types of relationships children build with others. The types of relationships that children build are composed of different types of egalitarian relationships where everyone is equal. Being seen as an equal is beneficial for the socialization of children because they are allowed to have the freedom to explore without having fears of being excluded. These types of relationships last longer because peers are equal versus when an adult try to interact with a child, their relationships do not last because they each …show more content…
There are 8 stages that Erikson developed. Each stage includes a crisis/challenge that an individual is required to overcome in order to have a successful journey into shaping their identities. The successful completion of the stages that cover infancy to adulthood, helps determine if a child will have or will not have problems when it comes to forming their own identity. Failure to successfully complete one of the eight stages can result with problems of identity and sense of belonging for the rest of the person’s life. Ego identity versus role confusion is stage 5 where the age range is from 12 to 18 years of age. It is in this stage where the child either forms a successful identity or they get stuck trying to figure out where they belong. According to psychologist Dan Olweus, “his studies in Norway reveal that bullying begins as early as the second grade and declines year by year” (Handel P.200). It is in the early years where children begin to develop patterns in their behavior that predict bullying among