Hafen, Christopher A.

The current study examined the homophilic processes of selection and
socialization in same-sex adolescent friendships across a 3-year period. The
framework of the actor-partner interdependence model for distinguishable dyads was
the main analytic technique, an improvement over previous analysis methods which
often did not allow for simultaneous exploration of selection and socialization.
Within the friendships, adolescents were distinguished based on their general peer
acceptance levels, and similarity was assessed for three behaviors: deviant behavior,
depression, and achievement motivation. Results showed evidence of both selection
and socialization for deviant behavior and achievement motivation, but not for
depression. Furthermore, partner influence paths suggested that more accepted
friends typically exerted more influence on less accepted friends. Gender also
moderated results, with girls tending to have stronger effects than boys.

The current study examined the process by which adolescents choose who to dislike in a sample of Finnish 10th graders. Information was available for the adolescents on their victimization, bullying behavior, problem behavior, school burnout, school grades, and their depressive symptoms. The initial analysis consisted of assessing which characteristics made individuals more likely to dislike someone, after taking into account the characteristics of the individual being nominated. This analysis found that individuals form antipathy for dissimilar others. This process is hypothesized to be a result of mechanisms of threat. The secondary analysis compared the characteristics of unilateral and mutual antipathies. This analysis found that mutual antipathies are characterized by elevated differences between individuals on victimization. These results identify and describe important aspects of the adolescent peer environment.