The Need to Belong

French demonstrates that while both teens and adults have an inborn need to belong, what people are willing to do to belong varies by personality. The members of Joanne’s group, for instance, are willing to do anything to fit in with the others. Holly and her friends represent the opposite situation. The support each other in being individuals. Moran demonstrates a middle ground between the attitudes of Joanne’s friends and those of Holly’s as he both longs for friends as well as the ability to be his own person.

Joanne’s friends are an extreme example of the need to fit in and be accepted. Conway describes them to Moran: “Thick blond geebag, slutty blond geebag, nervy blond geebag, geebaggy blond geebag” (162). They not only look alike, but they act alike and talk alike. Holly and the others watch as...