Peer Acceptance
A measure of a person’s likability as assessed by their peers.
Perceived Popularity
How much status or prestige a child has in the eyes of their peers.
Popular Prosocial Children
Academic success, strong social skills, and helpfulness.
Key Concept: These are the “all-around” kids who are liked because they are genuinely kind and competent.
Popular Antisocial Children
“Cool” but defiant; they may cause trouble or defy authority.
Controversial Children
High numbers of both “liked” and “disliked” nominations.
Key Concept: They are highly visible and active. They might be aggressive but also have a close-knit group of loyal friends who think they are great.
Average Children
They receive an average number of both positive and negative nominations from peers.
Neglected Children
Infrequently nominated, either positively or negatively.
Key Concept: They are not disliked—they are simply “invisible” or ignored. They often have decent social skills but are shy or withdrawn.
Rejected Aggressive Children
High rates of conflict, physical/relational aggression, and hyperactivity.
Key Concept: They are actively disliked by the group because their behavior is disruptive and they often misinterpret innocent peer actions as hostile.
Bullying
Repeated, systematic efforts to inflict harm through physical, verbal, or social attack on a weaker person.
Key Concept: Bullying is defined by an imbalance of power and repetition over time.
