"Kids choose popularity over intelligence because becoming successful by being smart seems to be more difficult than becoming successful by being popular. " I

"Kids choose popularity over intelligence because becoming successful by being smart seems to be more difficult than becoming successful by being popular. " I quite agree. More generally, it's about increasing one's social ranking in relation to others. And culture (not limited to ethnic) plays a huge part in that. Someone posted earlier that a kid would be popular if he were simply better than others at something. But this disregards culture, not just black, either. (I noticed the same thing in the schools I went to - British and all white). For instance, certain strands of hip-hop seem to laud brash and expensive jewelery. If a kid grows up with this influence, he will internalise this and laud anyone he sees who exhibits similar property. He would not think to do the same with anyone who announces he has read a certain book because he has not grown up to laud this achievement, because of his exposure to this micro-culture. Excellent article by the way!