Editing Popularity (section)

== Types of interpersonal popularity ==

For many years, popularity research focused on a definition of popularity that was based on being "well liked." Eventually, it was discovered that those who are ''perceived'' as popular are not necessarily the most well liked as originally assumed. When students are given the opportunity to freely elect those they like most and those they perceive as popular, a discrepancy often emerges.<ref name="Lansu">Lansu, T. M., & Cillessen, A. N. (2012). Peer status in [[emerging adulthood]]: Associations of popularity and preference with social roles and behavior. ''Journal of Adolescent Research'', 27(1), 132–150.</ref> This is evidence that there are two main forms of personal popularity that social psychology recognizes, [[Sociometric status|sociometric]] popularity and perceived popularity.<ref name=Cillessen-Rose>{{cite journal |last1=Cillessen |first1=Antonius |author2=Amanda J. Rose|title=Understanding popularity in the peer system|journal=Current Directions in Psychological Science |year=2005 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=102–105 |url=http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/dmessinger/c_c/rsrcs/rdgs/peers_social_general/Understanding_Popularty_Antonius.curdirpdf.pdf |access-date=7 November 2012|doi=10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00343.x|s2cid=16566957 }}</ref> Prinstein distinguishes between the two types as ''likeability'' vs. ''[[social status]]''.<ref name="Prinstein">{{cite book|title=Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World |year=2017 |author=Mitch Prinstein |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-0399563737}}</ref>

===Sociometric popularity or likeability===
Sociometric popularity can be defined by how liked an individual is. This ''liking'' is correlated with [[Prosocial behavior|prosocial behaviours]]. Those who act in prosocial ways are likely to be deemed sociometrically popular. Often they are known for their interpersonal abilities, their [[empathy]] for others, and their willingness to [[Cooperation|cooperate]] non-aggressively.<ref name="Borch">{{cite journal |last1=Borch |first1=Casey |author2=Allen Hyde, Antonius H. N. Cillessen|title=The role of attractiveness and aggression in high school popularity|journal=Social Psychology of Education|date=13 May 2010|volume=14|issue=1|pages=23–39|doi=10.1007/s11218-010-9131-1|s2cid=145421487 }}</ref> This is a more private judgement, characterized by likability, that will not generally be shared in a group setting. Often, it is impossible to know whom individuals find popular on this scale unless confidentiality is ensured.<ref name="Lansu" />

=== Perceived popularity or social status ===
Perceived popularity is used to describe those individuals who are known among their peers as being popular. Unlike sociometric popularity, perceived popularity is often associated with aggression and dominance and is not dependent on prosocial behaviors. This form of popularity is often explored by the popular media. Notable works dealing with perceived popularity include ''[[Mean Girls]]'', ''[[Odd Girl Out]]'', and ''[[Ferris Bueller's Day Off]]''. Individuals who have perceived popularity are often highly socially visible and frequently emulated but rarely liked.<ref name=Cillessen-Rose /> Since perceived popularity is a measure of visible reputation and emulation, this form of popularity is most openly discussed, agreed upon within a group, and what most people refer to when they call someone popular.<ref name="Lansu" />