Cliques

Definition

Cliques are small, exclusive groups within a larger social setting, such as a school or workplace. They are formed by individuals who share common interests, values, and social status, and often exclude others who do not fit their criteria for membership.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cliques often form in settings where individuals spend a significant amount of time together, such as schools, workplaces, or social clubs.
2. Membership in a clique can provide a sense of belonging and social status, but can also lead to exclusion and bullying of those who are not part of the group.
3. Cliques can reinforce social stratification by perpetuating existing power structures and limiting opportunities for social mobility.
4. The formation of cliques can be influenced by various agents of socialization, such as family, peers, and media.
5. Cliques can have a significant impact on an individual's social and emotional development, as well as their academic or professional performance.

Review Questions

• Explain how cliques form within a social setting and the role they play in reinforcing social stratification.
  • Cliques form when individuals with similar interests, values, and social status come together and exclude others who do not fit their criteria for membership. This process of in-group formation and out-group exclusion can reinforce existing social stratification by perpetuating power structures and limiting opportunities for social mobility. Cliques can serve as a means of maintaining social status and privilege, as membership in a high-status clique can confer social and economic advantages.
• Analyze the impact of cliques on an individual's social and emotional development, as well as their academic or professional performance.
  • Membership in a clique can provide a sense of belonging and social status, but can also lead to exclusion and bullying of those who are not part of the group. This can have a significant impact on an individual's social and emotional development, as they may struggle with feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Additionally, the pressure to conform to the group's norms and values can influence an individual's academic or professional performance, either positively or negatively, depending on the group's priorities and expectations.
• Evaluate the role of various agents of socialization, such as family, peers, and media, in the formation and perpetuation of cliques within a social setting.
  • The formation and perpetuation of cliques can be influenced by various agents of socialization, such as family, peers, and media. Family upbringing and values can shape an individual's social preferences and attitudes towards in-groups and out-groups. Peer groups, especially during adolescence, can exert strong influence on an individual's desire to belong to a clique and conform to its norms. Media portrayals of cliques, such as in movies and TV shows, can also contribute to the social construction and normalization of these exclusive groups. Understanding the complex interplay between these agents of socialization is crucial in addressing the negative impacts of cliques and promoting more inclusive social environments.

Related terms

In-Group: An in-group refers to a social group to which an individual psychologically identifies as being a member, often leading to favoritism and discrimination towards the out-group.

Peer Groups:

Peer groups are groups of individuals who are similar in age, background, and social status, and who interact and influence each other's behavior and attitudes.

Social Stratification:

Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of individuals and groups within a society based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and occupation.