Introduction

We are totally convinced that human groups are not created by chance. The saying "God raises them and they come together" has a direct application in the case of adolescent grouping.

In fact, when we analyze a stable group of adolescents from the sociological point of view, whether they are unisexual or mixed, we observe that practically all of their members come from a similar social class, with a similar social and intellectual maturity, live in the same area, they can go to the same school and, finally, their values ​​and preferences are very similar.

This implies that, depending on the age of its components, the group is transformed and goes through some stages that are generally uniform in almost all groups of adolescents.

In this study, we will review four important stages in the process of forming a group of adolescent friends.

Stage Pre-group (around 11 or 12 years).

In this stage the adolescent forms his groups with other individuals of the same sex. There are no conscious hierarchies (although disguised) and they do not differ much from the groups of smaller children.

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Unisexual stage (13 or 14 years).

The group begins to take more structured forms, with clearer leadership, but still composed of members of the same sex. In fact, this phase is characterized by a strong rejection towards the other sex.

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Heterosexual stage (15-16 years).

With the most obvious signs of development you enter the heterosexual stage. The attraction for the opposite sex is accentuated and groups of men begin to incorporate girls. At first only leaders and other prominent members relate to them.

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Stage of disintegration (from 16 or 17 years).

Finally, at this stage, the friendly relationship between both sexes is generalized. Certain couples begin to dismember themselves and establish their own independent relationship.