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Dating, Friendship, and Cliques

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Submitted By sphillips32
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Cliques, Friendship & Dating
Cliques

As a teenager, having a social life takes major precedence in shaping other people’s perceptions of an identity or even the light that they see themselves in. Often times, people make judgements about a person's value based on the type of friends they have. Our friends are a great support system in such a transitional part of our lives. We laugh alongside them, as well as suffer losses together. Most times our friendships are a positive aspect of how we define ourselves, but when friends become exclusive, it can seriously hurt those being left out.
A clique is a group of friends that excludes certain people in a purposeful manner. There may be one or two controlling members who influence the rest of the group. This type of peer pressure can cause people to act differently or behave in an uncharacteristic manner. These actions can stem from insecurities or the desire to gain popularity. People feel more powerful by putting others down, but deep down it doesn’t help to tear down the self-confidence and respect of another. (Coping With Cliques 2).
Girls have a tendency to form cliques more frequently than boys, but all members of a social community are affected by this kind of behavior. Often times teens will feel trapped in a clique or be afraid that if they speak up to stop things, the group will turn on them next. They take a passive approach to the situation in order to avoid being a victim. However, there is no true sense of belonging or trust and they may feel bad about their actions but fear rejection. (Mandel 6).
In order to help better understand how to resolve the issue of a clique, it helps to talk to someone with similar experiences. A family member, counselor, trusted teacher or even another friend can all offer a new perspective on how to deal with feeling excluded. An outside opinion often helps show

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