adolescents and adults to demonstrate heterosexual desire and sexual/seductive competence. This argument explains the drastic shift in the targets of ridicule from those who were too androgynous in middle school to those who can not or do not attract sexual attention in high school. The effects of such social enforcement of gender-roles, may take the form of relational aggression, bullying, and gay bullying. Implications Perhaps the most consequential finding from the empirical study of adolescent cliques is that they are not an inherently negative force, but rather part of normative development in our society. Although it is certainly true that certain cliques can negatively influence development, others can actually benefit adolescents. In cases in which clique influence is negative, it is encouraging to note that while most forms of interventions are fairly ineffective and peer group interventions frequently produce iatrogenic effects, interventions with parents have yielded encouraging results. See also Adolescence Cabal Clique Collusion Crowds (adolescence) Youth subculture Relational aggression Bullying Juvenile delinquency Simmelian tie References Clique Social groups Stock characters Youth