ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the various social functions performed by the family, in particular the parents. Children imitating their parents' behaviour are very likely to be ostracised from their peer groups – so most children avoid behaving that way. To be successful amongst peers the goal must surely be to behave like a child; to behave like one's peers. And this is what they do and why peer socialisation matters more. Peer relationships and group membership binds children and adolescents together in terms of attitude similarity and common interests. Harris disputed the notion of parents being the main contributors in the socialisation of their children by suggesting that children socialise other children. The boys became friends and would spend their time together watching videos of films showing violence. Psychologists believed they had been influenced by these films and in their fantasy world wanted to perform scenes of violence on another child.
