| − | A '''clique''' is generally defined as a small, exclusive group or circle of people who come together for a common purpose or common reasons or interests.<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clique Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of ''clique'']</ref> This definition is mostly used to describe high school students who band together based on such reasons (such as [[elitism|elitist]] and snobbish teenage girls from rich/high income/high-profile families, for which the term is most often used and in a [[pejorative]] sense; this type of clique tend to view themselves as "superior" to others, to look down on and exclude anyone they disapprove of, and to engage in behaviors such as bullying, aggression, cruelty, and ruthlessness to maintain power and control), although it can also be used to describe subcultural groups within society such as jocks, [[nerd]]s/[[geek]]s, [[punk]]s, [[Goth (subculture)|Goths]], hipsters and [[emo]]s. | + | A '''clique''' is generally defined as a small, exclusive group or circle of people who come together for a common purpose or common reasons or interests.<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clique Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of ''clique'']</ref> This definition is mostly used to describe high school students who band together based on such reasons (such as [[elitism|elitist]] and snobbish teenage girls from rich/high income/high-profile families, for which the term is most often used and in a [[pejorative]] sense; this type of clique tend to view themselves as "superior" to others, to look down on and socially exclude anyone they disapprove of, and to engage in behaviors such as [[bullying]], [[aggression]], cruelty, ruthlessness, [[manipulation]] and [[rumormongering]] to maintain power and control), although it can also be used to describe subcultural groups within society such as jocks, [[nerd]]s/[[geek]]s, [[punk]]s, [[Goth (subculture)|Goths]], hipsters and [[emo]]s. |
| | One historically notorious clique was the [[Ku Klux Klan]], the original terrorist wing of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat Party]]. | | One historically notorious clique was the [[Ku Klux Klan]], the original terrorist wing of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat Party]]. |