Colman Noctor: Interplay of politics and personality decides a teen’s popularity status

I remain hopeful that despite living in a world that is becoming more obsessed with image, power, and status, likeability remains the quiet power that never goes out of style

Likeable girls tend to be inclusive, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent. While they may not always be in the limelight, they usually have strong, meaningful friendships. Picture: iStock

‘But everyone else has one’, is a dubious argument most parents will have heard their teen make. But my daughter might have been right when she said this to make a case for a White Fox hoodie. Does wearing an expensive, in-fashion hoodie guarantee she will be popular, or does it require something more than that?

Popularity or lack thereof is a constant theme with the teenagers I speak with. They pay phenomenal attention to the dynamics of popularity, and while not always seeking it, almost all are aware of it and its importance to their social world. Many believe achieving popularity is the holy grail of survival: ‘If you are popular, everything will be alright.’