Peer relationships are considered to be a dominant feature of preadolescence as well as adolescence, but systematically formed networks have rarely been studied. There is a lack of information and research in the area of social networking on the level of adolescents. The issue of belonging is extremely important high school, and membership in a clique can have a strong effect on the adolescent's sense of self-worth. During high school, cliques become more consistent, though their composition may change. Research shows that the way an adolescent or teen behaves is better predicted by the behavior of cliques in which he/she is a part than by the behavior of individual. This research paper will investigate the characteristics of peer subgroups among classmates and their developmental trends throughout high school.
             Cliques are characterized by a pattern of relationships in which each member is either directly or indirectly connected with every other member, and in each pair relationship the members exchange social overtures (phone calls, get-togethers, etc.) on a fairly equal basis. Joining cliques, having the desire to join a particular clique, and being excluded from cliques are considered a normal part of adolescent development. The basic conditions for a person to join a clique are: (a) he or she has to be connected with all other clique members directly or indirectly through interactions; (b) the "strength" of the interaction between every pair of members, usually measured by frequency and/or duration, has to reach a given level; and (c) the interaction between each pair of members has to be reciprocal. That is, members must exchange social overtures on an equitable basis.
             Membership in a clique is defined; it is known who is and who is not a member. Members think of themselves as a composing group; they have a shared identity, thinking of themselves a group. There is a sense of shared purpose amongst the members a...