What 'Riverdale' gets right about high-school cliques
What's the story
Popular teen television series Riverdale provides a dramatized yet insightful glimpse into the workings of high-school cliques. While the show is lauded for its thrilling plotlines, it also perfectly captures the essence of teenage social structures. By analyzing these portrayals, viewers can learn how cliques function in real life. Here's a look at a few things Riverdale gets right about high-school cliques.
Social hierarchy
The power dynamics in cliques
In the hit show Riverdale, power dynamics within cliques are pretty clear, as some characters wield more influence than others. This is similar to real life, where some students automatically become the leaders, and the rest just follow. The show emphasizes how these hierarchies affect decision-making and group behavior, a reflection of the subtle yet prominent social structures in many high schools.
Influence and conformity
The role of peer pressure
Peer pressure has always been a recurring theme in Riverdale. The show highlights how people often succumb to group pressure to feel accepted. This, of course, is something that most of us can relate to, especially the teens. However, the series does a good job of showing how students have to walk the thin line between what they believe in vs. what the group wants.
Varied personalities
Diversity within cliques
Going by the example of Riverdale, cliques can also be seen as heterogeneous groups of people with different personalities and backgrounds. In reality, indeed, cliques are not made of people who think the same way or have similar interests, but instead, a variety of people with different perspectives and strengths.
Self-discovery
Impact on identity formation
The series delves into how being a part of a clique shapes one's identity as a teenager. Characters in Riverdale deal with growing up while being a part of tightly-knit cliques, emphasizing how much social circles determine one's sense of self and growth in formative years.
Internal struggles
Navigating conflicts within cliques
Conflicts within cliques are portrayed realistically in Riverdale, emphasizing internal struggles that arise from differing opinions/interests among members. These conflicts reflect common issues faced by students as they learn to manage disagreements and maintain relationships within their social circles. They provide insight into conflict resolution skills essential for adolescent development.