Click here for full show notes, exercises, and word-for-word scripts from this episodeMany parents have had the experience of seeing a kid change seemingly overnight from a child who doesn't worry about things like status and popularity to a teenager who is obsessed with this stuff. It can be baffling when teens start to suddenly care deeply about things like clothes, hairstyles, and social media.Thankfully there is a scientific explanation for why this change occurs and there are some simple things parents can do to help teens keep this popularity craze in check.Mitch Prinstein has spent his career studying status, popularity, and adolescent behavior--so he's the perfect individual to teach us these lessons. In his fascinating book, Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World, Mitch explains what he has learned through decades of research.Interestingly, Mitch said that popularity is actually a good thing in many ways. People who are more popular in high school go on to be more successful, have better relationships, and enjoy their lives more when they hit their 30's and beyond. So you don't want your teenager to completely disregard popularity.But there is an important difference to be aware of. Research shows there are actually two types of popularity: likability and status. You want your teen to be liked by his or her peers but you don't necessarily want your teen to have high status.What should you say to a teenager to help him or her navigate this stuff? What important things do you need to know about popularity as a parent?And, finally, how might your own popularity (or lack thereof) when you were in high school still be influencing your parenting today?All of that and more is covered on this episode of the podcast.