Adolescent peer crowds such as Punks and Goths are mainly identified 의해 their strikingly unusual 또는 even shocking appearances. Although many studies find these crowds, few have tried to explain why some youths take on these startling 또는 shocking appearances. We hypothesized that an off-putting appearance is a way to cope with behavioral inhibition 의해 limiting social contacts. Using data from 1,200 7th–11th graders, we compared peer crowds characterized 의해 their startling appearance (“Radical” crowds) with three theoretically relevant comparison groups. Results showed that youths affiliating with Radical crowds were 더 많이 inhibited than other youths, including those in crowds previously shown to be shy 또는 socially anxious. Inhibited Radicals, however, had poorer emotional adjustment than inhibited youths in other crowds. If Radical styles are a way for inhibited youths to cope 의해 limiting social contacts, the strategy does not seem to be beneficial for emotional adjustment.
