h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's a difference between a club or society where members have a common interest and usually welcome new additions as opposed to a clique which is a more self limiting group of people adhering to a particular fashion or behaviour.

Clubs and societies are good venues to meet other people to share enjoyment of a particular activity. That can offer strength in numbers, opportunities and so on. There can of course be cliques within clubs thus excluding and isolating other members.

Cliques can provide an opportunity to behave in a way that one wouldn't do alone. They may give an illusion of safety but perhaps the pain of suddenly being ousted is worse than never having been admitted. It can take real strength of character to go against the crowd.

I think most people do prefer some sense of belonging to a group, however amorphous. In childhood these are usually family, school friendship groups, perhaps a sport or hobby group. In adulthood our groupings can be many and various. It's comfortable to have a feeling of fitting in with other humans, but not good to always go with the crowd. Some of us are better at being loners than others.

Well said. You are absolutely right.

I find that exposure to these cliques usually is first initiated at school.I've seen it even in playschools.Especially when the children of "those in the clique" attend and it branches off from there.

In my experience clubs can help develope self confidence, knowledge and wellbeing and helps an individual to grow. All positives.

Whereas a clique will be limiting,no one may proceed further than the head of the clique, and regardless of how you feel you must follow the heads example or be ousted and ridiculed.All negatives.