Adults often see adolescence as an important and critical period of time in a youngster's life. Although adolescents put much emphasis on this period of time, they spend most of their adolescent years searching for themselves and figuring out what they are really about. In reality, this can be a very confusing time for these young people. They go through many changes and they don't even know why. Three factors that may influence these changes in their lives are their peers, ethnicity and culture.

PEERS

As these children grow up they start spending more and more time with their peers and their obsession with popularity increases. The need for popularity could be negative or positive. Negative popularity can be described as smoking, drinking alcohol, stealing, or anything negative that the individual does not want to do, but does it because their "group" is doing it. Positive popularity can be described as doing nice deeds for people or volunteering help. No matter if the popularity status is negative or positive, it is influenced by the group the individual interacts with. Group identity often overrides personal identity. Through adolescents the individual is not necessarily their own individual, but an individual with the identity of their group. Cliques and crowds are the major influences on an adolescent's identity.

Cliques and Crowds

Cliques and crowds are what controls the lives of many adolescents. Cliques are smaller crowds. They involve greater intimacy among the members, and have more group cohesion than crowds. Crowds are the largest groups and least personal of adolescent groups. Because adolescents are looking for their identity, they rely on cliques and crowds to "find themselves."

James Colman (1961) did a study on cliques and crowds. Coleman's study is one of the most widely cited studies on adolescent cliques and crowds. Coleman took students from different high schools and asked the students to identify which student's are the most athletic and most popular. The result was that the students who were most athletic and popular were recognized more than the over achieving academic students. There are many different cliques and crowds in high schools around the world. The crowds that existed when I went to high school were the Jocks, Stoners, Gangsters, Preppies, and the Popular Crowd. I was labeled a hip-hop head, but I made it a point to hang out with different crowds to get to know other people. I believe that you cannot judge a person on just their appearance.

Hip-Hopper

Hip hoppers are usually kids that listen to rap music. The fashion started with just rapper dressing. As time went on, kids wanted to look like their favorite rapper. They went out and bought what the artist(s) were wearing in their videos. There are also different types of hip hop dressing, separated by the different parts of the United States. Usually, kids from the East Coast will dress like the picture shown. In the West Coast, kids also have a different style. Hip Hoppers are portrayed as trouble makers and hoodlums. Out of all the groups, they wear the most colorful outfits.

• WHAT IS HE WEARING?
• Skiing goggles (Smith)
• Yellow Bubble Vest (First Down)
• Army Green T-shirt (Donna Karen New York)
• Camouflage hat (Army Surplus Store)
• Tan Cargo Pants (Old Navy)
• Tan Boots (Timberland)

Nerds

A nerd is usually a kid that is very academic. They have good grades in school, but do not have good social skills. Nerds are quiet individuals that usually keep to themselves. Some also have very low self esteem. Nerds are the laughing stock of most high schools. Remember, Bill Gates was a nerd in high school, now look at him. He is the riches man in the world. Nerds are typically some of the most successful people when they grow up.

• What is he wearing?
  • Penny loafers
  • Very tight dress pants
  • A stripped collared shirt
  • A pocket protector
  • Wire framed glasses

Skaters

Have you ever seen high school crowds that carry skateboards around? If you have you have probably encountered what is called a skater. Skaters are also percieved as trouble makers or slackers. They are associated with slackers because of their laid back fashion. Skate boarding is a very popular sport all across the United States. If you look at any high school in the U.S. you will be able to find a group of skaters in each school you go to.

• What is he wearing?
  • T-shirt (MECCA)
    • Army green Cargo shorts (Old Navy)
  • Plaid long sleeve shirt (Vans)
  • White shoes (Addidas)
    
    
    Preppies

Preppies are the high school kids that are in a higher class financially. They show off how much money they have by what they wear and what they drive. They are often perceived as snobs and usually stick with their own financial class.

• What is he wearing?
  • Cardigan sweater around the neck
  • Wool blue vest
  • A collared white polo under the vest
  • White dress slacks
  • white shoes (K-Swiss)
  • Tan golf hat and of course the tennis racket

Gangsters

Gangsters are the kids in high school that are involved in gang activities. Out of all the peer groups, gangsters are portrayed as the toughest and craziest groups. They are also very intimidating individuals that use their image to scare the other peer groups. But, once you get to know them they are very friendly individuals. I just think that the gangsters and the hip-hoppers are often misunderstood.

• What is he wearing?
  • Los Angeles Dodgers hat
  • Blue Flannel (Dickies)
    • White shirt (Dickies)
    • Tan pants (Dickies)
    • White shell toe shoes with thick laces (Addidas)

Ethinicity and culture are major issues in determining the identity of an adolescent. As an adolescent matures, they learn more about their own ethnicity and culture and become aware of other people's culture. In general, they relate more as someone from their own beliefs and values. By knowing these beliefs and values, adolescents incorporate them into their own identity.

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