When Good Groups Go Bad

B O S T O N, Nov. 28 -- Preps, jocks, and goths — when do such teen cliques go from being a positive to a destructive force?

In the wake of charges that a group of New Bedford, Mass., teenagers planned a local high school killing spree that officials said targeted "thugs, preps, and faculty," many may be left wondering about the extent to which an "us versus them" belief system can spark violence in American schools.

Cliques and groups are common to school age children and do not necessarily mean trouble, agree experts. But as past events have demonstrated, it is also critically important to acknowledge when such group identity becomes a threat.

When Cliques Click

"Particularly in American culture, peer crowds are a very common phenomenon and they do serve a purpose," says Mitch Prinstein, assistant professor of psychology and director of clinical training at Yale University.

According to Prinstein, these groups can help adolescents navigate through social networks and categorize peers, especially during times when many students move into larger schools such as in middle school and high school.

"These groups are also sort of a shortcut for adolescents to develop friendships and romantic relationships," says Prinstein.

Overall, groups play an important role in identity formation. "That children identify themselves with a group is part of deciding who they are and having a feeling of belonging," adds Linda Madison, a child psychologist and director of family support and psychological services at Children's Hospital in Omaha, Neb.

Dangers of Group Identity

Experts also acknowledge that there is a dark side to cliques as well.

"The downside is that there are some groups that are valued more highly than others," says Jay Bass, a counselor and violence prevention consultant based in Washington, D.C. Additionally, "those who cannot latch into groups are somewhat disenfranchised."

In other words, those who do not fit into a specific group may feel neglected or hostile towards those who do and have a higher profile as a result. These individuals may then establish a group identity that is purposely set apart from what they see as being widely accepted.