Why do we do so much to impress people we don't like?

I read a quote that went along with that this morning and so I spent my school day attempting to study this. Most folks do this quite often and all of us do it at some points, but I just wanted to see how prevalent it is. The case could be made that my study group, the RCTC student body and some high schoolers, isn't exactly the most mature group and therefore not representative of the rest of us folks. But, you folks know you do it, so you can go fuck yourselves.
Admit it, there are times when you take pleasure in someone liking you (as a friend or romantically) when you do not enjoy them as a person. You like that they like you while you do not like them, because that means you must be a better person for someone to like you and not see that you dislike them. So, you might even put in some effort to keep this person liking you. We will do this through physical (cars, clothes, partners) things and through social conduct. We also do this in workplaces, although, this is often for monetary or positional gain. But people do this even when they do not receive any sort of visible gain.
An example: two of my group members in math class spent the entire class period discussing the situation between them, some other friends, and the actions of some guy in Michigan that they called their friend. The female, Jenny (I think), begins the day by being imfatuated with this fella, then the male, Miles, informs her of some of his actions when away from his girlfriend and most of their other mutual friends. She then hates him with vigor (she was shaking, it was weird) and wants to confront him over the phone (not sure if that is possible) but Miles protests.
Why? Because he doesn't want this guy, who he has admitted is a chronic liar and a douche, to hate him. Why? Who knows. Because humans have some inner drive to be able to associate with as many people as possible? Perhaps. I don't know yet or at least I don't feel like typing out everything on this that I think I know as it would take up too much space.
So, do you do this, and why do you think others do this?

Extra question: Do you primarily wonder while you wander or wander while you wonder? This has a little more depth than first appears, or at least I have created some in my mind.

Peace.