Sources of Peer Group Homogeneity

Abstract

Conformity pressures, disproportionate group-leaving by deviates, and homophilic membership selection are identified as three sources of homogeneity in student friendship groups. Fortynine high school friendship groups are tested to determine which of these three mechanisms contributes most to their homogeneity. Homophilic selection accountedfor much of the groups' homogeneity, conformity pressures made a small contribution, and group-leaving contributed nothing to homogeneity. It is suggested that the magnitude of peer influence on aspirations has been overestimated in the status-attainment literature.