Clique

A clique (AusE, CanE, UK: /ˈkliːk/ or US: /ˈklɪk/), in the social sciences, is a group of individuals who interact with one another and share similar interests. Interacting with cliques is part of normative social development regardless of gender, ethnicity or popularity. Although cliques are most commonly studied during adolescence and middle childhood development, they exist in all age groups. They are often bound together by shared social characteristics such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Examples of common or stereotypical adolescent cliques include athletes, nerds, and 'outsiders'. A clique (AusE, CanE, UK: /ˈkliːk/ or US: /ˈklɪk/), in the social sciences, is a group of individuals who interact with one another and share similar interests. Interacting with cliques is part of normative social development regardless of gender, ethnicity or popularity. Although cliques are most commonly studied during adolescence and middle childhood development, they exist in all age groups. They are often bound together by shared social characteristics such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Examples of common or stereotypical adolescent cliques include athletes, nerds, and 'outsiders'. Typically, people in a clique will not have a completely open friend group, and can therefore 'ban' members if they do something considered unacceptable, such as talking to someone disliked. Some cliques tend to isolate themselves as a group and view themselves as superior to others. Within the concepts of sociology, cliques are a formation of two or more individuals who share bonding characteristics that allow for them to identify with one another to form a social network. Those within the group communicate and associate with one another more so than with those outside of the group. The formation of cliques can be identified within different social environments throughout the course their lives. One person may be part of multiple cliques, each forming and functioning independently from one another. Cliques are relevant in society due to the social influence or peer pressure that results from the interactions with individuals who share a common characteristic. The outcomes associated with clique formations may be endless with varying degrees of influence. So, a formal clique, such as a professional organization, would have a different kind of influence as compared to a social clique consisting of close friends. In their article 'Social Isolation In America', Paolo Parigi and Warner Henson II define social isolation as 'the degree of apartness of an entity; may have structural or subjective interpretations.' Social isolation may occur when cliques set themselves apart from other groups.