Popularity and social status

Abstract

Adolescents are highly concerned with their social status in the peer group. Social status can be defined in terms of popularity or in terms of likeability. Popularity and likeability are distinct forms of social status. They are moderately related and differ in how much they change over time. Popularity and likeability are also correlated with different traits and behaviors. The profile of likeability is primarily prosocial; the profile of popularity is a mixture of prosocial and manipulative behaviors and is associated with prestige and peer influence. In terms of outcomes, likeability is associated with positive outcomes such as high school achievement, whereas popularity is associated with health risk behaviors such as drinking and smoking.