Final answer:
Peer groups serve as an essential socialization agent for children and adolescents, significantly influencing their personal academic achievements and behavioral outcomes. While positive peer influences can lead to better grades and behavior, social media has transformed peer influence by allowing global connections that can reinforce existing beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Peer Groups on Academic Achievements
Peer groups play a crucial role as an agent of socialization for children and adolescents. These groups influence personal academic achievements in various ways. During adolescence, when individuals work to form their own identities, they often become less reliant on parental guidance and more influenced by their social peer groups. These peer groups provide a platform for socialization outside the family, which is essential for individual development.
Importantly, peer influence can have positive outcomes such as better grades and fewer behavioral problems if the relationships within the group are founded on mutual respect and support. Warm and healthy parent-child relationships also contribute to positive outcomes, even as adolescents spend more time with peers. On the other hand, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds might not have access to the same supportive peer networks, which can affect their educational success.
Furthermore, the rise of social media has had a significant impact on peer group formation and influence. Online platforms allow young people to connect with like-minded individuals globally, potentially reinforcing existing beliefs and attitudes. As such, while local peer groups used to play a predominant role in shaping a child's political socialization and worldview, virtual peer groups now offer an alternative source of influence and may lead to the formation of 'echo chambers' discussed in later chapters concerning media.