Final answer:
The correct answer is option c) It provides a sense of belonging and identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
One advantage of being part of an adolescent crowd is that it provides a sense of belonging and identity. Adolescence is a critical period where individuals begin to develop an identity separate from their parents and assert independence. Being part of a peer group can offer adolescents their first major socialization experience outside their family circle.
Peer groups provide a social network that helps adolescents compare themselves to others and negotiate various aspects of their identities. Within these groups, members can give and receive emotional support, as well as challenge their beliefs and prejudices. In this context, peer groups offer a unique environment where new social skills can be practiced, contributing to the adolescent’s development and personal growth.
Furthermore, groups can contribute to collective action by forming a common purpose and reducing individual free-riding through monitoring, peer pressure, and mutual support. This is particularly true in small groups where collective action problems are less severe. Hence, the answer to the question is c) It provides a sense of belonging and identity.