What concept explains the behavior of people conforming to group norms?

The concept of social conformity is central to understanding why individuals often adjust their behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs to align with those of a group. This phenomenon is influenced by the desire for social acceptance and the fear of rejection or ridicule. When people conform, they typically do so to fit in with the group, believing that the group's standards represent an acceptable norm.

Social conformity can occur in various contexts, such as when individuals adopt the opinions of their peers or modify their behaviors to match what they perceive to be group expectations. This adjustment can happen even in situations where the individual may personally disagree with the group's stance, highlighting the powerful influence of social norms on behavior.

In contrast, while social facilitation involves the enhancement of performance in the presence of others and group polarization refers to the tendency for group discussion to amplify the members' initial leanings, these concepts do not specifically address the behavior of conforming to group norms. Deindividuation relates to the loss of self-awareness in groups, which can lead to behaviors that are not typically exhibited by individuals alone, but again, it doesn’t directly explain conformity to existing norms. Therefore, social conformity is the most relevant concept for understanding the dynamics of aligning one's behavior with that of a group.