Children who are disliked by many peers are:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
Rejected Children

In the field of developmental psychology, a classification system called **sociometric status** is used to understand a child’s standing within their peer group. This classification is typically determined by asking classmates who they "like" and "dislike." Children who are classified as **Rejected Children** are those who receive a **large number of "dislike" nominations** from their peers and a **low number of "like" nominations**. They are, in essence, actively and consistently disliked and avoided by their classmates. This negative status is highly stable over time and often stems from their own disruptive or withdrawn behaviors. Rejected children may exhibit significant social maladjustment; some are rejected-aggressive, displaying hostile, disruptive, and argumentative behavior, while others are rejected-withdrawn, characterized by passive, lonely, and socially awkward conduct. This active dislike and resulting ostracism can lead to serious long-term issues, including lower self-esteem, poor academic achievement, and an increased risk for later psychological problems. Therefore, the definition of a rejected child perfectly matches the description of "children who are disliked by many peers."

The incorrect option is 1:
Popular Children

Popular Children are the complete opposite of the group described in the question. In sociometric terms, they are children who receive **many positive ("like") nominations** and **few negative ("dislike") nominations** from their peers. They are well-liked, accepted, and highly visible within the social structure of the classroom or peer group. They typically possess strong social skills, are cooperative, and have a good reputation among their classmates. Thus, they are liked, not disliked, by many peers.

The incorrect option is 3:
Neglected Children

Neglected Children are characterized by receiving **very few nominations of any kind—positive or negative**. They are neither intensely liked nor intensely disliked; rather, they are often simply **overlooked or unnoticed** by their peers. They are sometimes shy or withdrawn and do not actively seek social interaction, which leads to their low profile in the peer group. The crucial distinction is that they are not actively *disliked* by many; they are *unnoticed* by most.

The incorrect option is 4:
Controversial Children

Controversial Children receive **many "like" nominations** *and* **many "dislike" nominations**. While they *are* disliked by many peers, they are simultaneously liked by many others, making them highly visible and capable of wielding social influence, though often in conflicting ways. They tend to exhibit a mix of characteristics, such as being cooperative but also aggressive and disruptive. Because they also have a large number of positive nominations, they do not fit the primary status of being defined by *active and widespread dislike* alone, which is the defining characteristic of rejected children.