Published in the February issue of the journal American Sociological Review, one study followed approximately 3,700 students in 8th, 9th and 10th grades for one school year and found that popular adolescents were more likely to act aggressively to climb the social hierarchy (等级制度) among their peers.This trend was apparent in both sexes.

　　Although popular teens were more likely to act aggressively, the researchers found an exception: adolescents in the top and the bottom parts of the social hierarchy displayed the least aggression toward others.

　　Robert Faris, a sociologist at the University of California, Davis, and coauthor of the study, says this may be because teens at the bottom of the totem pole (等级) don't have the social power to pay off (成功) being aggressive，while kids at the top have no need to assert (维护) themselves.

　　“If an adolescent at the top of the social hierarchy were to act aggressively toward his or her peers, such action could signal insecurity or weakness rather than cement (巩固) the student's position...” Faris says in a UC Davis Press Release.Simply put, the most popular kids have an easier time maintaining their statuses by being nice.

　　In the study, aggression was defined as any activity intended to “harm or cause pain” in another person. “Whether aggression is actually successful in promoting students to the top of the social ranks is still unclear，”the authors said.

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