In the social sciences, a clique is typically a group of people who engage with one another and have common interests. Although cliques exist in all age groups, they are primarily researched throughout adolescence and middle childhood development.

They are often bound together by shared social characteristics such as ethnicity and socio economic status.

People who belong to a clique typically have an entirely open circle of friends and can, therefore, “ban” individuals if they engage in unwanted behavior. like conversing with someone you don’t like. Clique members frequently have their own distinctive dress code and distinctive ways of communicating with one another. Some cliques have a tendency to isolate themselves as a group.

A Clique VS Group of Friends

Here, belonging to a group can make your day simpler to handle and teach you valuable life lessons like respecting others, listening well, and sharing experiences.

People can form groups based on their shared interests. So jocks, goths, preps, skaters, and even the math club are naturally drawn together because they share similar interests.

The people in these groups feel they have a place where they’re welcome and supported, and where they can be themselves.

Some people establish groups because they enjoy the same types of music or movies, are members of the same theater club, or perhaps just prefer to hang out at the mall. Some groups together for an extended period of time. Others drift apart after a while as people develop new interests, make different friends, or just find they have less in common.

People can join and leave groups, and they can even be a part of several at once. Some friendship groups seem to be quite open to new members joining in. However, some appear to be considerably more constrained. People in these groups make it clear that not just anyone can be part of their crowd. That type of restricted group is sometimes called a CLIQUE.

Characteristics of cliques:

Many cliques focus on preserving their status and popularity rather than being oriented on shared values and beliefs. For instance, a clique may try to present its members as “better” than those outside of it or as belonging to a clique with higher prestige than another. Clique members occasionally intentionally harm others by excluding them, being mean to them, or doing both. Sometimes they might insult people by trying to “fix” them or give them “makeovers.” Other times, it escalates to the point where an outsider is singled out or harmed because of how they act, appear, or differ from the majority.

People in cliques frequently do everything together, as opposed to typical friendship groups where members are allowed to mingle with people outside the group. They only hang out with other members of their clique or those they deem to be “cool”; they sit together in class and even go to the mall together after school.

Even though some people may believe that being a member of a clique is preferable to being excluded, those who join it sometimes find themselves subject to numerous restrictions and pressures. They soon begin to stress about whether or not they’ll remain in demand or be dropped.They might eventually come to the conclusion that real buddies wouldn’t be so demanding or bossy.

Why cliques attracts more people?

Cliques attract people for different reasons: Being popular or cool is vital to certain people, and cliques provide them with a setting where they can achieve this social status. Others desire membership in cliques because they dislike feeling excluded. Some people simply feel it’s better to be on the inside than the outside.

Cliques allow those who enjoy being in charge the opportunity to do so (for good or bad!). They provide a setting where rules are clearly laid out for those who feel more comfortable adhering. Clique members typically understand what they must do to fit in. Sometimes this entails giving up part of your personal autonomy and doing as the leader directs.

Clique membership is usually tightly controlled by the leaders. These social gatekeepers have the authority to determine who is hot and who is not. This kind of membership control typically occurs in girl cliques.

Being accepted into a clique isn’t a given, as many excellent youngsters have discovered. . In fact, a girl who is seen as likeable and popular may actually be excluded from belonging to a clique. That’s because her personality or confidence may pose a threat to the leaders. If she can garner enough popularity on her own, she might not make a suitable “follower.” Even when she isn’t invited, sometimes her pals are. . Clique members may deliberately exclude her in an attempt to take away her perceived power or the threat they think she could pose.

Cliques aren’t just for girls. Guys form cliques, too — usually around a sport, computer game, or type of clothing or music. They are capable of being equally as cruel as girls when it comes to the social outcasts.

View from the Inside

Inside a clique, things aren’t always rosy either. A person’s standing within the group can always be under threat. Most of the followers cling to the leader not out of true friendship but because they want to keep their position in the group.

However, even a leader can lose control. In reality, the dominant female member of a large girl group probably cares about popularity and acceptance just as much as the outsiders do. Because no one feels secure, clique members often use the tools of flattery, humiliation, or rumors to manipulate situations and preserve their status.

Some girls are able to maintain friendships with members of the clique as well as those outside of it. However, that might be challenging because there is frequently strong social pressure from the group to limit friendships to those on the approved list. It takes a lot of self-confidence to dare to be friends with someone outside the clique.

Sometimes clique members decide they want out. They don’t like being limited by the rules, and they don’t like leaving others out and hurting people’s feelings. People may no longer want to be a part of a clique as they get older. Usually toward the end of high school, kids are more relaxed about who is “in” and who’s not. But earlier on in your school life it can take a lot of courage to leave a clique or decide to remain on the outside.

Beware of online groups and cliques using social network sites. These have become popular sites to put others down, invite only selected friends to a party, and make mean comments or posts. People can even build fake profiles. Only post profile information and photos that you want everyone to see. Keep your messages to other people online private.

How to survive Cliques?

Whether you’re on the inside or the outside, cliques can make your life tough. But there are ways to cope:

• Know yourself — and your reputation.
  
  Now is a time for getting in touch with your values, interests, and beliefs. If you’re encountering cliques, it’s a good opportunity to ask yourself some self-discovery questions about what you and your true friends give each other. Do you want to be part of a group because you need to feel accepted or because you actually share their values? Has your group of friends morphed into something you don’t like? How do your friends influence the way people think about you? Does this make you feel good or bad?

• Stay involved in activities that make you feel good about yourself.
   
  If you’re in a clique, don’t let the group pressure you into giving up things you love or spending time and money on things that aren’t important to you. If you’re on the outside and feeling left out, getting involved in things that interest you is a great way to find a sense of belonging, help you feel valued, and take your mind off a group that’s not welcoming. If you don’t have friends at school, join a volunteer group (helping others or the environment can make you feel good about yourself).

• Keep your social circles open and diverse.
  
  Cliques can be very limiting in the way they control how members look, think, dress, and behave. Don’t let them make you miss out on getting to know people who may become close friends. If you’re on the outside, it can help to find a close friend or group of friends whose values, goals, and behaviors fit in with yours. The support and genuine caring you get will keep you from feeling so defenseless when the mean girls tease and bully. Sometimes just knowing that clique members are probably insecure can limit their power over you.

• Speak out. 
  
  If you feel your group of friends is turning into a clique, take a stand for your beliefs. The clique might go on without you (remember those girls who feel threatened by someone else’s strength). But there’s also a chance that others might follow your lead and stop acting so clique-y. If it’s too hard to get up the courage to speak out, you still don’t have to participate in things that feel wrong. And if you’re on the outside and know that a clique is bullying or intimidating others, let teachers or counselors know about it.

• Have a mind of your own. 
  
  Be sensitive to others and don’t go along with what you don’t believe is right — even if others are doing it. You are the only one responsible for how you act. True friends will respect your mind, your rights, and your independent choices. Even if someone tells you to do something that is “just a joke,” say no if you know it’s not right. Try not to be intimidated. If your crush is on the “outside,” ask him or her out anyway. It can feel good to mix things up a little.
  
  

Friendships change. Just as one clique can make life miserable, changes in social groups can take their power away. You may encounter cliques as a freshman or sophomore. But the good news is that most cliques disappear by the end of high school.

Want to know the real secret to being popular and having friends??

Be a good friend yourself. People who enjoy true and lasting popularity are those who have good friendship skills. Being a friend means being respectful, fair, interested, trustworthy, honest, caring, and kind. So if you want to have friends, be just the kind of friend you’d like to have and stay true to who you are.

Why cliques is dangerous?

The world of cliques is a dangerous and confusing one. There are good groups of course, groups that help out around the community, or the school, or give some kind of entertainment to others. But for the most part, the average stuck up clique can be dangerous if they are crossed. High school students have enough to worry about, and the clique is just an added burden. Cliques are as much a part of high school as is the English department, but something should be done to make sure they don’t ruin the lives of the innocent who are just a little bit different than those that are part of the group.