One of the most common form of social influence that makes an individual to desire to “fit in” in a group is conformity. It describes the tendency of an individual to exhibit behaviors and have beliefs that are generally considered okay by the group. For example, if smoking is a behavior considered cool and a way of life by a certain group of young high school students, a member of the group who does not agree to this generally held view by the group may likely be influenced to eventually take up such behavior and belief by conforming to the group’s perceived idea of smoking as an acceptable norm.
