Peers are almost always a stronger impact on people than their parents are. Read Judith Harris's "The Nurture Assumption". The single strongest influence is g

Peers are almost always a stronger impact on people than their parents are. Read Judith Harris's "The Nurture Assumption". The single strongest influence is genetic, roughly 50%, next is peer group, third is general cultural environment, further down is parental influence (note that this assumes fairly normal family life, abuse or serious neglect increases impact of parents). The best way parents can influence their children for the better is by careful selection of neighborhood for their children's peers.