Friends and Friends and PeersPeers

Research focusResearch focus::

Developmental changes in Developmental changes in friendship and peer groups friendship and peer groups

in adolescence and in adolescence and emerging adulthoodemerging adulthood

Family & Friends in AdolescenceFamily & Friends in Adolescence

Time spent Time spent with familywith family decreasesdecreases

Time spent Time spent with friends with friends

increasesincreases

28 minutes per 28 minutes per day with parentsday with parents

103 minutes per 103 minutes per day with friendsday with friends

(Buhrmester & Carbery, 1992)

Friendships in AdolescenceFriendships in Adolescence

Mean GirlsMean Girls• Clip from movie Clip from movie (1(1stst ten minutes or so) ten minutes or so)

• Featurette w/ Rosalind Wiseman – author ofFeaturette w/ Rosalind Wiseman – author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence Realities of Adolescence

Popularity in adolescencePopularity in adolescence• How studied?How studied?

SociometrySociometry: research method in which : research method in which students rate the social status of other students rate the social status of other studentsstudents

Participant-ObservationParticipant-Observation method (Student method (Student Presentation)Presentation)

Unpopularity in AdolescenceUnpopularity in Adolescence

Rejected A’s – actively disliked by peersRejected A’s – actively disliked by peersNeglected A’s – barely noticedNeglected A’s – barely noticed

What happens to “unpopulars”?What happens to “unpopulars”?• Exclusion from groups / cliquesExclusion from groups / cliques• Recipients of sarcasm and ridicule – designed toRecipients of sarcasm and ridicule – designed to

Promote dominance hierarchyPromote dominance hierarchy Reduce non-conformity and increase group cohesionReduce non-conformity and increase group cohesion Clarify in-group, out-group (easing anxiety by directing Clarify in-group, out-group (easing anxiety by directing

negative attention to others)negative attention to others)• Recipients of aggression (relational and physical)Recipients of aggression (relational and physical)

Relational – gossiping, spreading rumorsRelational – gossiping, spreading rumors Physical – bullyingPhysical – bullying (Small group exercise on bullying)(Small group exercise on bullying)