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Peer Relationships in Childhood

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Synonyms

Friendships; Peer acceptance; Peer groups; Peer networks; Peer rejection

Definition

Peer relationships are the social bonds that tie together two or more individuals who are similar in age or social group.

Introduction

Relationships matter for youth. They matter for young people’s well-being, impacting development, health, achievements, and overall life satisfaction. Relationships may take many forms, but relationships with peers are among the most important and influential relationships in young people’s lives. Relationships with peers, or others who are similar in age and/or social group, can be quite diverse. Some peer relationships are close and tightly knit, involving a small number of peers who form a strong bond with one another. Other relationships are more diffuse and involve many peers who share ties or connections to one another. Relationships can be positive – characterized by liking, support, and trust. They can also be negative – characterized by disliking and...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Kenton B. Woods & Laura D. Hanish

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  1. Kenton B. Woods
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  2. Laura D. Hanish
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Correspondence to Kenton B. Woods .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

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  1. University of South Carolina - Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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Woods, K.B., Hanish, L.D. (2018). Peer Relationships in Childhood. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2395-1

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