Cliques,( pronounced clicks), have been around for a long time. I’m sure you’ve heard of the “jocks”, “the artists”, “the nerds”, and the “emo kids”, etc. Maybe you belong to one of these groups, maybe you don’t. But how did these different groups even form, and can you bounce between them and still stay true to yourself?
When asked the definition of a clique, Etymology said, “An exclusive party of persons; a small set, especially one associating to arrogate power or privilege.” Most cliques are formed because a big group of people all share the same interests and hobbies, whether it’s sports, art, music, or mutual friends. Some have a leader, or one main person that seems to be in charge, but this isn’t always the case. Cliques can be very confusing socially if you don’t know the dynamic of everyone’s friendships. Some people belong to many different cliques and some don’t belong to any. It’s all about who you hang out with and what sports you play that can be the deciding factor to where you sit at lunch. Some groups are very accepting, and others only give the illusion that they are elite.
What About Stereotypes?
Stereotypes are very common when dealing with cliques. “Emo” kids are thought to only wear black and be very quiet. “Preppies” are thought to only wear pink and have lots of money. “Jocks” are often stereotyped as being dumb and only caring about the sport that they play or getting all the girls. “Nerds” can be thought of as annoying or a cheat sheet to copy off of. Some people stereotype certain cliques so much that they become elite or unattainable in that person’s mind, and that can lead to resentment of that person or clique.
Troy Media’s Faith Wood said that, “I’ve certainly experienced feeling invisible in a new group until I forced myself to become engaged. However, at times, my eagerness to connect with familiar faces may inadvertently neglect new acquaintances.” To put it into more understandable words, putting yourself out there can be really helpful when making new friends, but in some large social situations, we might neglect our new friends in order to try and connect with as many people as possible.
What About Social Awkwardness?
Indeed Career Guide gave us some tips about how to conquer social anxiety.
- Plan What You’re Going To Say
Planning what you are going to say will help you avoid those awkward silences and is helpful if you need to provide feedback.
- Work On Your Active Listening Skills
Listening to what others say allows you to chime in when needed with sentences that make sense, helps you understand their point better, and is important for making them feel heard and understood.
- Determine What Makes You Uncomfortable
Understanding what makes you uncomfortable is the first step in eliminating your social awkwardness. Once you identify the cause, you can take more drastic steps to eliminate it.
- Practice Relaxation Techniques
Sometimes, feeling overworked or nervous can make you feel awkward. Practicing deep breathing or going for a walk or run.
- See Social Interactions As Opportunities
If you often doubt yourself in social situations, try switching your viewpoint into a more positive approach. Try to find the positives in every meeting, conference, or everyday situations.
- Learn To Understand Social Cues
Failing to pick up on social cues can make someone feel uncomfortable or awkward. People may lean away from you, cross their arms, or not maintaining eye contact can show that someone isn’t interested in the conversation. Recognizing these cues can help make the conversation less awkward.
These tips can help make a social situation more enjoyable for everyone. Cliques can be very confusing, but with confidence and positivity, you can handle anything that comes your way.
