Getting on and falling out: The role of peer relationships in child development

Speaker: Robin Banerjee, Professor of Developmental Psychology School of Psychology
Part of the series: Sussex lectures

Children’s interactions with their friends can provide enduring memories of playful companionship, exciting games, and a warm sense of belonging.  Yet we also know that children’s journey through the social world of friendships and peer groups can present many challenges.  In the course of this lecture, we will explore a programme of psychological research investigating the interplay between how children think, how they feel, and how they behave in the context of their peer relationships.  In doing so, we will grapple with fundamental issues in children’s education, family life, and contemporary consumer culture, and consider strategies for responding to society’s most pressing concerns regarding children’s educational engagement, value systems, and mental health.