I went to a local middle school to gain some insight as to the social behaviors of teens. It was lunch time and this crowd I observed had well defined cliques. Out on the school courts were groups of teens, characterized by members being similar to one another in age, gender, race, and social status, also in their types of interest and activities. These cliques seemed interaction based as the kids were playing basketball on the court, soccer on the field, girls picking daisies, younger girls chasing boys, among many other things.

The adolescents under observation are in what

There was one adolescent that really stood out. He was about a foot and a half taller that the rest of the kids and he was playing basketball. He was the organizer of the game and he was obviously the best player out there as well. He fit the description of an early-maturing boy to a tee. He is very large for his age, stronger, and obviously enjoys a considerable athletic advantage. According to Rice, they are better able to excel in competitive sports and their athletic skills enhance their social prestige and position. This was obvious because he seemed really well liked and everyone wanted to be on his team. Early maturing boys also enjoy considerable social advantages in relation to their peers, participate more frequently in extracurricular activities in high school, and are often chosen for leadership roles. Furthermore, they tend to show more interest in girls and to be popular with them because of superior looks and more sophisticated social interests and skil!

Those with poor self-concepts are often rejected by other people. Acceptance of self, according to Rice, is positively and significantly correlated with acceptance of , and by , others. One of the signs of possible disturbance during adolescence is an inability to establish friendships or to meet new people. I did notice one lonely boy sitting off away from the court. He seemed to be interested in the basketball game that was going on but if anyone made any sort of eye contact with him he would just look away. I got the impression that he wanted to be involved but just didn't know how. People with low self esteem are not noticed or selected as leaders, and they do not participate often in class, clubs, or social activities. They do not stand up for their own rights or express their opinions on matters that concern them. These adolescents more often develop feelings of isolat

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Approximate Word count = 1262
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)