Final answer:
Middle-school-age girls tend to solve conflicts among friends with a desire to make social interaction nonconfrontational, influenced by gender norms and expectations that shape their behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the textbook, the motivation of middle-school-age girls to solve conflict among friends is often due to a desire to make social interaction nonconfrontational. The textbook highlights how social dynamics, particularly those influenced by gender norms and expectations, can lead to certain behaviors. In this case, middle-school-age girls may prefer to resolve conflicts among friends in ways that avoid direct confrontations.
The motivation can be connected to broader social theories. For instance, conflict theory might suggest that these nonconfrontational approaches are shaped by traditional gender roles where assertiveness is discouraged among girls. As such, internalized social norms become a key factor in how adolescent girls manage their interpersonal relationships. This aligns with findings in sociology that suggest female students may be encouraged to be more cooperative, while male students might be allowed more freedom to exhibit assertiveness and competitiveness.