Colman Noctor: Power and 'politics' in teenage relationships

If you have been excluded from the popular group as a teenager you end up with negative market value

Bullying and exclusion is a huge problem in our society with far-reaching mental health consequences. An extensive review of all Irish studies by the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre found that 22.4% of primary students and 11.8% of post-primary students have experienced some form of school bullying. That is a lot of children.

I have often heard from children in therapy who describe relationships where they appear to be being dominated by a bossy peer. They usually give accounts where the relationship is formed on anything but a 50:50 basis.

The give-and-take process involves them giving and the other person taking all the time. The dominant peer will dictate what they do, control every activity, and speak down to, or undermine the more passive friend.