Representing and assessing other social groups is a primary issue in verbal interactions of adolescent peer groups. By the representation of others, the peer-group gains its own identity ex negativo. The paper analyzes instances of naturally occurring peer group interactions. It is argued that the default Orientation towards interactional competition and entertainment that is distinctive for adolescents' peer group interactions leads to a preference for stereotypical representations of the

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... . By constructing images of the outgroup, the peer group creates highly involving and entertaining interactive events that strengthen consensus and emotional cohesion among the group members. While the practice of Stereotyping others tacitly reproduces common moral Standards, it simultaneously avoids imposing them explicitly on the individual member. Convening on what we are not and what we do not want to be by Stereotyping others thus can be seen as a solution for the problem to reconcile the need for a common group identity and shared normative expectations with the need for individual freedom and absence from obligations. A m ajor issue in the development o f social and personal identity in adolescence is the distinction of one s own identity from those of members o f other social groups. Adolescents set themselves apart both intergenerationally from the generation of their parents and from children and intragenerationally from other youngsters who differ in their socio-stylistic Orientation. These distinctions are realized by various interactional, emblematic, and actional practices, for example, by selfpresentation, provocation, conflict, avoidance, or geographic segregation. Peer group interactions are a most im portant arena for the conversational construction and assessment o f social identities of seif and other. Aspects o f the other s identity are made present by stylizations. These representations o f the other can serve to cope with experiences with members of other social groups; they can also provide POSTPRINT