Chapter 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY According to the oxford advanced learners dictionary (2001) peer group is a group of people of same age or social status. The peer group is the first social group outside the home in which the child attempts to gain acceptance and recognition. Peer group is an important influence throughout one’s life but they are more critical during the developmental years of childhood and teenage life.. Socialization in our society is being a life time process it cannot be limited to the family members alone. As a teenager grows older and more matured, it become more necessary for the child to be involved in his/her life. The family is not expected to provide all the education required by the growing child. The school which is an established academic institution in which the behaviour of an individual is sharpened to get him/her equipped for socialization. In the school system, the child gets into the social group of interest. As a result of the various attitudes, skills, knowledge is acquired through role-play. Peer group as an agent of socialization is the most important socializing is the most important socializing agent for the developing child. Peer group is important in social change. the child’s life is transformed from the helpless child into a mature adult. Important thing is that each child takes his/her membership of the per very serious and attempts to do anything to ensure he/she is accepted and recognized. Lack of acceptance by the peer disturbs the child especially at the teenage age. Some children have been known to do badly in school not because they lack the academic ability to do it well but because they are disturbed by the fact they are being influenced by their peer group.