Bringing together leading researchers, this is the first volume to
comprehensively examine popularity among children and adolescents: what
it is, how it is attained, and its impact on peer interaction and
individual development. The book clarifies how popularity is distinct
from being socially accepted or well liked and how it is different for
girls and boys. Behaviors that characterize popular peers are explored,
as are the developmental benefits and risks of popularity and its
connections to peer influence processes. Innovative measurement
approaches and research designs are clearly described.