Friends and Peers Research focus: Developmental changes in friendship and peer groups in adolescence and emerging adulthood

Family & Friends in Adolescence Time spent with family decreases decreases Time spent with friends increases 28 minutes per day with parents 103 minutes per day with friends (Buhrmester & Carbery, 1992)

Friendships in Adolescence Mean Girls Mean Girls Clip from movie (1 st ten minutes or so)Clip from movie (1 st ten minutes or so) Featurette w/ Rosalind Wiseman – author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of AdolescenceFeaturette w/ Rosalind Wiseman – author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence Popularity in adolescence Popularity in adolescence How studied?How studied? Sociometry: research method in which students rate the social status of other students Sociometry: research method in which students rate the social status of other students Participant-Observation method (Student Presentation) Participant-Observation method (Student Presentation)

Unpopularity in Adolescence Rejected A’s – actively disliked by peers Neglected 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 hierarchy Promote dominance hierarchy Reduce non-conformity and increase group cohesion Reduce non-conformity and increase group cohesion Clarify in-group, out-group (easing anxiety by directing negative attention to others) Clarify in-group, out-group (easing anxiety by directing negative attention to others) Recipients of aggression (relational and physical)Recipients of aggression (relational and physical) Relational – gossiping, spreading rumors Relational – gossiping, spreading rumors Physical – bullying Physical – bullying (Small group exercise on bullying) (Small group exercise on bullying)