So do you remember high school?
Do you remember what your status was?
Did you remember if you fell under the category of "popular" or "loser?"
"Cool" or "lame?"
Remember when you were 13 and you viewed your classmates with envy and admiration. A time when the "popular girls" wore makeup and had older boyfriends. And then there were the boys who would boast about sneaking bottles of beers on the weekends and throwing out-of-control parties?
If you can't exactly recall what your status was in high school, then maybe Janis Ian from Mean Girls can help you out with her crafty cafeteria map of all the cliques at North Shore High School.
Do you remember what your status was?
Did you remember if you fell under the category of "popular" or "loser?"
"Cool" or "lame?"
Remember when you were 13 and you viewed your classmates with envy and admiration. A time when the "popular girls" wore makeup and had older boyfriends. And then there were the boys who would boast about sneaking bottles of beers on the weekends and throwing out-of-control parties?
If you can't exactly recall what your status was in high school, then maybe Janis Ian from Mean Girls can help you out with her crafty cafeteria map of all the cliques at North Shore High School.
So what is the point of me reminding you how socially awkward you were during your freshmen year? Or how you were always picked on or excluded by the "cool" kids at your school?
Well, for those who know without a doubt that they weren't the most "looked up to" or "popular" person in high school, then you're in for some AWESOME NEWS.
How awesome is it?
Just awesome enough that that those four torturous years of high school, will be all worth it.
Well, for those who know without a doubt that they weren't the most "looked up to" or "popular" person in high school, then you're in for some AWESOME NEWS.
How awesome is it?
Just awesome enough that that those four torturous years of high school, will be all worth it.
So if you were looked down upon as being a "geek" or a "nerd" in your younger years and were afraid how society would treat you after you graduated from high school, then fear no more, my dear nerdy friends!
This past month a study conducted by Joseph P. Allen at the University of Virginia was published in the Journal of Child Development that followed a group of risk-taking, popular, "cool kids" for a decade starting in middle school. The study found that in high school, their social status often waned and they began struggling in various ways after they graduated and went off to college. According to Allen, problems arose due to these kids' early rush into what he calls pseudomature behavior (aka: starting to drink at a younger age, having sex at a younger age and essentially acting older than their age). Allan states in the intro of his study: "There are a variety of routes by which adolescents may seek to establish apparent maturity and attain status with peers via pseudomature behavior, ranging from the mildly destructive to the immature but relatively harmless. A substantial proportion of minor adolescent delinquency, for example, is believed to result from teens seeking the appearance of maturity and status with peers by engaging in acts of deviance to establish that they are no longer compliant children. In contrast, teens can also gain the appearance of maturity in more benign, if still immature, ways."
This past month a study conducted by Joseph P. Allen at the University of Virginia was published in the Journal of Child Development that followed a group of risk-taking, popular, "cool kids" for a decade starting in middle school. The study found that in high school, their social status often waned and they began struggling in various ways after they graduated and went off to college. According to Allen, problems arose due to these kids' early rush into what he calls pseudomature behavior (aka: starting to drink at a younger age, having sex at a younger age and essentially acting older than their age). Allan states in the intro of his study: "There are a variety of routes by which adolescents may seek to establish apparent maturity and attain status with peers via pseudomature behavior, ranging from the mildly destructive to the immature but relatively harmless. A substantial proportion of minor adolescent delinquency, for example, is believed to result from teens seeking the appearance of maturity and status with peers by engaging in acts of deviance to establish that they are no longer compliant children. In contrast, teens can also gain the appearance of maturity in more benign, if still immature, ways."
Suffice to say, the kids who participated in Allan's study are now in their early 20s and are currently facing issues with relationships, substance abuse, even criminal activity. They're also, according to Allan, desperately trying to hang on to the things that made them so beloved in high school, which simply doesn't translate as a young adult with new priorities. "They are doing more extreme things to try and act cool, bragging about drinking three six-packs on a Saturday night, and their peers are thinking, 'These kids are not socially competent,'" Allen says. "They're still living in their middle school world."
That being said, those fast-track kids that who were the king or queen of the high school hallways back in the day, do not bode well later in life. The methods from the 10-year study followed 184 seventh and eighth graders (86 males and 98 females) as they progressed from age 13 to 23. The adolescents were first assessed annually over a 3-year period, and at each age, the students nominated that their closets, same-gendered friend to be included in the study as well as an additional two peers from within their extended circle of friends and acquaintances.
What researchers suggested was that if an adolescent encountered a situation early in their lives that called for a strong desire for peer approval, then it would be linked to a constellation of behaviors (i.e. minor delinquent activity, precocious romantic involvement, and a focus on physical appearances in friendships).
The earlier an adolescent starts acting mature, the less mature they will actually become when they are older. Because by that time their maturity will have already burned out.
That being said, those fast-track kids that who were the king or queen of the high school hallways back in the day, do not bode well later in life. The methods from the 10-year study followed 184 seventh and eighth graders (86 males and 98 females) as they progressed from age 13 to 23. The adolescents were first assessed annually over a 3-year period, and at each age, the students nominated that their closets, same-gendered friend to be included in the study as well as an additional two peers from within their extended circle of friends and acquaintances.
What researchers suggested was that if an adolescent encountered a situation early in their lives that called for a strong desire for peer approval, then it would be linked to a constellation of behaviors (i.e. minor delinquent activity, precocious romantic involvement, and a focus on physical appearances in friendships).
The earlier an adolescent starts acting mature, the less mature they will actually become when they are older. Because by that time their maturity will have already burned out.
In terms of competence with peers, pseudomature behavior in early adolescents predicted not only a declining popularity with peers but also lower levels of peer competence, as rated by peers, in early adulthood. Allan says, "One potential explanation for these findings is provided by cumulative continuity theory. . . . This theory suggests that efforts to attain status with peers via superficial, pseudomature behaviors might lead to future difficulties because these pseudomature behaviors replace efforts to develop positive social skills and meaningful friendships and thus leave teens less developmentally mature and socially competent over time."
Prior research has suggested that adolescents engaging in pseudo mature behaviors tend to feel older, at least in the short run. Comparatively, a study back in 2009, found that the adolescents who dated, reported having sex, used alcohol, and used drugs experienced an increased subjective age (how old they feel) compared to their chronological age. Meaning, that self-perceptions of maturity may arise from engaging in "adult-like" behaviors, causing the subject to feel older than less experienced adolescents.
The motivational force behind such behavior (especially at age 13) was associated with when the subject's peers were more likely to say that would like to spend time with the participant – thus providing a powerful short-term reinforcement. This developed a type of status-seeking link, suggesting that at a formative point in social development, some early adolescents are learning to established connections with their peers by engaging in pseudomature behaviors to impress those peers, rather than by learning to connect successfully with them via more adaptive means.
Prior research has suggested that adolescents engaging in pseudo mature behaviors tend to feel older, at least in the short run. Comparatively, a study back in 2009, found that the adolescents who dated, reported having sex, used alcohol, and used drugs experienced an increased subjective age (how old they feel) compared to their chronological age. Meaning, that self-perceptions of maturity may arise from engaging in "adult-like" behaviors, causing the subject to feel older than less experienced adolescents.
The motivational force behind such behavior (especially at age 13) was associated with when the subject's peers were more likely to say that would like to spend time with the participant – thus providing a powerful short-term reinforcement. This developed a type of status-seeking link, suggesting that at a formative point in social development, some early adolescents are learning to established connections with their peers by engaging in pseudomature behaviors to impress those peers, rather than by learning to connect successfully with them via more adaptive means.
Pseudomature behavior is not an actual mature behavior, but rather an act or at least the feeling of being mature. And once a subject starts to depend on that pseudomature behavior, it could evolve into larger problems, and that status of the once "cool" individual drops.
But you've probably already figured that out by now after attending your high school reunions or by stalking your old classmates on Facebook. Being one of the "cool" kids does not necessarily mean that they will be "cool" for the rest of their lives.
That being said, if you are someone still in high school that does not identify under as "cool" or "popular" do not sweat. Believe it or not, you're actually in a better possession than the Queen Bees and King Jocks at your school. Those kids may seem like they are mature and have their futures laid out, but its all an act. None of it is real and you shouldn't buy into that.
And if you are someone who has graduated from high school, found a steady job and is living comfortably, but you were never "in the spotlight" in high school, I betcha that you are more successful and happier than the popular kids that were in your class.
But you've probably already figured that out by now after attending your high school reunions or by stalking your old classmates on Facebook. Being one of the "cool" kids does not necessarily mean that they will be "cool" for the rest of their lives.
That being said, if you are someone still in high school that does not identify under as "cool" or "popular" do not sweat. Believe it or not, you're actually in a better possession than the Queen Bees and King Jocks at your school. Those kids may seem like they are mature and have their futures laid out, but its all an act. None of it is real and you shouldn't buy into that.
And if you are someone who has graduated from high school, found a steady job and is living comfortably, but you were never "in the spotlight" in high school, I betcha that you are more successful and happier than the popular kids that were in your class.
So, if you don't want to go out to that party and would rather stay at home and curl up watching Netflix, that is completely fine! Continue watching Star Trek and Doctor Who, embrace your geekiness and your nerdiness because it will get you far in life. You don't have to invest your time with makeup or new clothes to impress people. All you need is to act your own age and just be yourself.
You will succeed in life if you do!
You will succeed in life if you do!
Works Cited:
Allen, J. P., Schad, M. M., Oudekerk, B. and Chango, J. (2014), What Ever Happened to the “Cool” Kids? Long-Term Sequelae of Early Adolescent Pseudomature Behavior. Child Development. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12250
Albrecht, Arne K., Glambos, Nancy L., Jansson, S. Mikel (2009), Dating, Sex and Substance use Predict Increases in Adolescents' Sujective Age Across Two Years. International Journal of Behavioral Development. Vol. 33 no. 1 32-41
"Cool at 13, Adrift at 23." Well Cool at 13 Adrift at 23 Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2014.
Allen, J. P., Schad, M. M., Oudekerk, B. and Chango, J. (2014), What Ever Happened to the “Cool” Kids? Long-Term Sequelae of Early Adolescent Pseudomature Behavior. Child Development. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12250
Albrecht, Arne K., Glambos, Nancy L., Jansson, S. Mikel (2009), Dating, Sex and Substance use Predict Increases in Adolescents' Sujective Age Across Two Years. International Journal of Behavioral Development. Vol. 33 no. 1 32-41
"Cool at 13, Adrift at 23." Well Cool at 13 Adrift at 23 Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2014.
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