Social Structure During the School Years: Onset of the Degrouping Process

Abstract

Most studies of the development of peer relations focus on the distinction between group members and nonmembers, while theoretical accounts of social structure emphasize the importance of liaisons, the locus of weak ties. Liaisons, with less integrated friendship networks, are crucial to the permeability of social systems. Using data on 2,299 children, grades three through twelve, in a community school system, we show that the proportion of group members increases through grade six, then declines, while the proportion of liaisons increases continuously. This finding challenges traditional accounts of the development of cliques and suggests that the study of the degrouping process may provide an important link between adolescent and adult social networks.