The adolescent period is commonly regarded as a time of non-conformity to adult society and of an overriding concern with social relations at the peer group level. From the point of view of those interested in education the emergence of friendship cliques within the formal structure of the school is of particular interest. Research has shown that young people will not apply themselves to learning unless this is consistent with the norms operating in their informal friendship groups. Children with high intelligence test scores have left school at the earliest opportunity in accordance with their group norm, while college aspirations have been found to be influenced more by peer group allegiance than by any other single factor. 1
