Peer Groups and Children's Development

Acknowledgments.

1. Peer Groups in a Cultural Context.

Introduction.

Cultural Dependency.

Theoretical Framework.

Peer Groups and Children’s Development.

2. Peer Groups and Classroom Structure.

Introduction.

The Peer Group Structure of Classes.

The Structure of Classroom Subgroups.

Summary and Conclusions.

3. Performance and Cooperation in Classrooms.

Introduction.

Whole-Class Interaction and the Performance Mode.

Subgroup Interaction and the Cooperative Mode.

Summary and Conclusions.

4. Cooperative Interaction and Curriculum Mastery.

Introduction.

Piagetian Perspectives on Cooperative Interaction.

Assistance and Cooperative Interaction.

The Social Impact of Classroom Interaction.

5. Friendship, Status, and Centrality.

Introduction.

Children’s Friendships.

Peer Status in Formal Groups.

Status in Friendship Groups.

6. Individual Differences in Informal Experiences.

Introduction.

Varying Experiences of Status.

Friendship and Status Compared.

Continuity and Change.

7. Social and Personal Adjustment.

Introduction.

Peer Groups and Antisocial Behavior.

Peer Groups and Personal Adjustment.

Summary and Conclusions.

8. School Performance Revisited.

Introduction.

Peer Groups and Educational Failure.

Diverse Consequences of Friendship.

Classroom Practice and Developmental Outcomes.

9. Implications for Practice and Future Research.

Summary and Introduction.

Remedial Work with Individuals.

Qualified Endorsement of the Cooperative Approach.

Future Research and Theoretical Development.

References.

Index.