CHAPTER 5 – PEER GROUPS

Chapter 5: Peer Groups Overview

Peer groups: Defined as groups of individuals who are approximately the same age.
The concept of free public education, where students were grouped by age, was first developed by educators.
Age grading: This refers to the process of organizing individuals within social institutions based on their age.
Adolescent peer groups, formed through friendships made in school, did not become prominent until well into the twentieth century.

The proportion of the population that is adolescent varies globally.
- It is highest in developing countries, particularly in the Arab world.
- It is lowest in highly industrialized nations, such as Japan.
This observed trend is expected to continue in the future.
Generational Cohorts and Key Events (Table 5.1 Summary):
- Generation Z (2002–2025 as young adults): Characterized by the Internet explosion.
- Millennials (1992–2015 as young adults): Marked by the information era, economic growth, and global politics.
- Gen X (1982–2005 as young adults): Defined by the Reagan era, economic polarization, and political conservatism.
- Late Baby Boomers (1972–1995 as young adults): Experienced the Watergate era, economic recession, and employment restructuring.
- Early Baby Boomers (1962–1985 as young adults): Associated with the