Social Groups and Cliques in My School

Over the past 4 years, I've observed as new cliques and social groups have slowly formed or suddenly sprung up all throughout the schools I've attended; in this article, I hope to show my readers the groups that have been formed over the course of those 4 years.

PART 1: THE CLIQUES

Cliques, by definition, are almost exactly the same as social groups with a few major differences: they do not permit just anyone; they are exclusive to a select few (or a select many, depending on the size of both the schools population, as well as the community). Unlike social groups, many members of a clique are forced to either pretend and/or adopt the same interests, styles, friends, and hobbies of the rest of the group. In this part, I will be introducing you all to both the main cliques themselves, as well as the spin-off and wannabe cliques. Please note that these cliques don't name themselves, nor do they identify by these names. These socially identifying names have been labeled both by me, as well as by the schools general public. Lets begin with:

Area 1: The Prep Hierarchy

THE ULTRA PREPS:
are very materially obsessed, as well as very materially oriented. In other words; if you don't have the right bling, the right clothes, the right hairdo, or the right attitude you are either exempted from the group, or you are a target of psychological bullying, as well as possibly physical harassment.
They often use drugs and drink alcohol, but not to any addicting or lethal extent; just enough to show "what they're worth" to the other members of the clique.
These people tend to either be narrow minded, or hide there open-mindedness as to remain part of the group.
This group demands respect throughout the school. If they are disrespected, consider yourself lucky if all you get is constant psychological harassment. In most cases, they'll challenge you to a fight, or preemptivley attack you in or outside of school.
Every other clique identifies with them to some degree; most more than others.
Some members become so popular with other groups that they may end up branching off and creating there own minor clique.
People of this clique tend to be very into sports; both on the TV screen as well as on the court or field. They also tend to think they're better then almost everyone else, and as such act quite smug.

THE MIDDLE PREPS:
Tend to be people who want to be part of the bigger group, and as such are accepted by them to an extent, but not to an all-involving extent. As such, they tend to have most (if not all) of the same qualities of the Ultra Preps, just to a blunter effect. They are also more accepting, but not by much. When accepting a new member, they are quite reluctant with them to begin with.

THE SEMI-PREPS:
Although accepted to an extent by the other higher Prep Cliques, this clique has much less restrictions, and tends to be a bit more open-minded when it comes to almost everything.
Although they still dress in the same basic form as is typical to all preps, and partake in the same sort of drinking binges as well as drug parties, they will socialize with people who are members of social groups, or who are of a lower Prep ranking as they are.
Despite there widened horizons of acceptance, they are still very picky and restrictive when it comes to new direct members.
They also tend to refrain from intimidating other people for any reason whatsoever, although it isn't unheard of that it can happen from time to time.

Area 2: The 'Other' Cliques

THE WANNABE PREPS:
Usually unaffiliated with any of the other Prep Cliques, this group is constantly striving for some sort of acceptance from either the Ultra Preps, or the Middle Preps. Although the very odd member of the Wannabes is indeed accepted into either one of the cliques on rare occasion, they are usually treated with less tolerance then the other members of the clique.
Semi-Preps are the only direct members of the Prep hierarchy to directly socialize with this clique; and even they find them to be quite intolerable at times.
Some (if not most) members of this clique tend to suffer from the psychological disorders known as the Inferiority Complex, or the Superiority Complex (although it's debatable that alot of the members of the actual Prep hierarchy suffer from the same problems).

THE DRUGIES: Also known as the Stoners or the Skids
This clique is only restrictive for one reason: the only way you can become a member is if you do drugs. Otherwise, your out.
If not for that obvious fact, this clique could be identified as an all-accepting social group; alas, there single restriction is a large one for most.
The Drugies are one of the only cliques to show no interest in the Prep Hierarchy, although some members would be more then happy to hang out with any of the Prep groups, providing all they're doing is either drinking or smoking.

THE GOTH/EMO'S:
don't identify or socialize with any other clique or social group. Although low in numbers, they are very obvious and distinctive in a crowd.
There group is oriented with things like Satan, violence, darkness, evil, anime, and occasionally witchcraft (as such, this group corresponds with all its required features as seen by popular culture).
This clique is probably one of the most restrictive and narrow minded of all the cliques, and accepts very few people.
They also engage in probably the most dangerous amount of drug use as compared to every other clique (even the Drugies).

PART 2: THE SOCIAL GROUPS

A social group, by definition, is a group of friends with similar interests, who are more then willing to accept new members at any given time.
Despite this, there are still a few distinctively labelled social groups who, despite there close ties with other social groups, are still divided to an extent.

THE DRIFTERS:
are people who drift from one social group to another. Despite there wide acceptance of everyone, it can be risky on occasion because sometimes a Drifter can inadvertently drift on the path that leads towards cliques such as the Prep Hierarchy (although I've only seen that happen once).
They tend to be rightfully popular and spend alot of there time hanging out with friends of different social group origin.

THE CAFFETERIANS:
tend to spend most of there time at the tables in the cafeteria (when not in class). The only reason they aren't part of an entirely unified social group is simply due to there location. They are visited by Drifters at very frequent intervals within the time frame of a week.

THE DORK NERDS:
Although a social group, they tend to keep to themselves despite there physical proximity to any other social group (usually due to feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem).
They tend to excel in the the academic half of school, but are a constant target of both physical and psychological harassment from the Prep Hierarchy.
Most, if not all of the members of the Dorks tend to be quite clumsy and do indeed stay true to the stereotype.
They never go to anyone, but if someone was to come to them as to become a part of there social group they would accept them after a very short while. Drifters will occasionally visit them, but will usually refrain mainly to avoid becoming a target of Prep cruelty.

THE ATTRACTIVE NERDS:
tend to be quite popular, even occasionally among members of the Prep Hierarchy. They succeed both academically and socially, and are usually sportsy and outgoing. They can, on occasion, be mistaken to be Preps, but always turn out to be quite the opposite. Drifters will commonly visit them.

THE WANNABE POPULARS:
are always searching for acceptance from the Preps, but still tend to be quite outgoing, as well as very open-minded and accepting. Some of them only wish to join the Prep Hierarchy as to start a school-wide revolution to bring the Preps to an end, while others plan to either hide there open-mindedness and acceptance in favor of the Prep state of mind, or convert Preps to join different social groups. They are largely unsuccessful, but on the odd occasion, we see the nest being shaken abit.

THE NEUTRALS:
Largely left alone by the Prep Hierarchy, this social group is full of people either to shy to make new friends, or simply unwilling. On occasion they can be a minor target for the Preps, but it most cases, they stay true to there name and are left alone. If they do make new friends, its usually with visiting Drifters.

Well, that's my analysis of my school life that I've been observing over the past 4 years; I hope you all enjoyed. Peace out.