Adolescents' Social Goals, Beliefs About the Causes of Social Success, and Satisfaction in Peer Relations

The social goals and beliefs involved in adolescent peer relationships were examined for 266 9th-grade students (approximate age = 14 years). Factor analysis of questionnaire responses revealed 6 goals pursued by adolescents in their relationships with their peers: Intimacy, Nurturance, Dominance, Leadership, Popularity, and Avoidance. Six beliefs about behaviors or circumstances that lead to success in peer relationships were also identified: Being Sincere, Having Status, Being Responsible, Pretending to Care, Entertaining Others, and Being Tough. The prediction that there should be meaningful connections between sets of goals and beliefs was supported. Finally, prosocial goals and beliefs were positively associated with satisfaction with peer relationships but not related to peer sociometric nominations.