Running head: SOCIAL CONFORMITY AMONGST TEENAGERS

Social Conformity Among Teenagers In High School

Dayana Salazar
The University of Texas at El Paso
Professor Stone
Rhetoric and Composition 1302

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Abstract
Social conformity has risen to the attention from media to public schools. Social conformity
is best described as trying to fit in, which is now a common term in the younger culture. Once
puberty starts, social conformity intersects more in mid-teenagers lives. This can be good or bad
pressure presented in day to day situations for an individual's decisions. Teens have an intense
pressure of belonging to family, friends and peers (Myers,2008). These types of situations can
have negative outcomes like bullying or the feeling of isolation. The purpose of this literary
review is to define social conformity and the pros and cons of social conformity. It will mainly
focus on the primetime of conformity which is during the teen years in high school. As well as
present different outcomes individuals can experience towards their future.

Social Conformity Amongst Teenagers: A Review of Literature

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Social conformity can have many perspectives and opinions from counselors to social
psychologist. However, it mainly starts affecting teenagers but the peak would be in high school.
Society knows conformity but in other titles like social norms, peer pressure and trends. There is
pressure to fit in and to be the same as everyone else during a certain age. Whoever does not
follow these trends will be seen as an outcast which can have a negative development of peer
pressure in an, individual's self esteem. In recent studies by Andrea Roberts from Harvard School
of Public Medicine, it was noted that many students would experience abuse from others because
of being an outcast or different. It also showed that many teenagers who do not follow the social
group are greater risk of PTSD, social anxiety disorders and eating disorders. This can also result
to bullying which has risen in the recent years. Conformity does have negative influences that
later can affect an individuals future.
With social conformity they can have negative influences but it also has positive aspects,
mainly it is acceptance. Being accepted in a social group is a positive because it falls in the lines
of an expected role. The expected role is within a social group, it is what someone is expected to
fill that follows the standards (Myers,2009) . But when an individuals is being accepted it is
mostly known that they did not have much change to their personality. Basically it is a trade-off
between a social group and identity. Social Psychologist have many points of views but many
questions of the debate of either ,positive and negative are in the details, the following questions
are:

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1. How does informational influence affect a teenagers behavior in a social group?
2. How does identity help a teenager shape the expected role from them in a group?
3. Why do social norms help influence a teenagers behavior to change and avoid social
rejection?
4. What are outcomes of social conformity in teenagers ?

How does informational influence affect a teenagers behavior in a social group?

Informational influence is conformity that is reality provided by other individuals with
presented evidence to the individual (Myers, 2009). Basically imitating the actions of the people
who tell an individual of what is right to do. Teenagers experience this with naturalistic
observation, basically observing the groups actions and then being told it is the right thing to do.
After the questioning of the individuals beliefs then they are usually pressured into believing it
is right and the evidence is the large portion of people who have done the action. This can affect
a teenagers behavior because it is based on evidence either good or bad. After they will follow
the trend set by the majority. It can also teach an acceptable behavior in situations. One historic
experiment, is Asch experiment, when a group of students were in belief they were wrong
because no one in the group agreed with them in the various visual test so they would change
their answers to adjust to the group (Asch, 1951).
Table 1
Solomn & Asch experiment
(1951) visual test group sample
conducted in the social
experiment.

Many students were

wrong about changing

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their answers however, it set a platform to study how informational conformity can affect how
drastic a behavior can change to the total opposite, proving social conformity to be powerful.
In high schools the term popular can be widely used, as studies show many girls who are
popular use aggressive behavior which results as not really being well liked (Prinstein &
Cillessen, 2003). However,being influenced by the media brings them to such behavior after the
actions they start influencing other girls. Which brings them to social power influencing and
dominating other girls to follow them in order to gain attention and acceptance (Gonick, 2004
:Ringrose 2008). This can correlate to bullying. In which girls can not have a certain identity
because of the majority influence but if conflicted are outcasted and made fun of.
Since informational conformity has a wide range of topics another type of high influence is drug
and alcohol. While peers have a strong influence on the individuals, the process of the decisions
is still not clear on how it is made (Stein, Newcomb, & Bentler, 1987). Many drug abusers first
start with the influence by others and then measure their abuse by their levels of social anxiety,
fear of disapproval, and conformity. After, they then exert that behavior to their circle of friends
who they now fit in with.
Table 2* 2009 peer pressure statistics
In an interview Carlos Rubalcaba, a social psychologist and Army veteran, stated conformity is a
powerful and dangerous influence because it can lead to peoples later decisions. A new generation is
highly more influenced because of todays technology and overwhelming media. Leading to higher
abuse of drugs and bullying. One of

the

solutions for informational

conformity

can be a rise of authority, either by

parents or

older adults around a teenager. A

correction

to behavior or influence that is not

necessarily

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right, then is changed. Authority figures are encouraged in a teenagers life because it is guidance to have
in developing their own identity.

How does identity help a teenager shape an expected role from them in a social setting?
Identity is an important role in social conformity it is defined as beliefs, qualities and
concepts of a person. Social identity theory is the sense of who a person is based on their status
of the group (Tajfel,1979). It is a source that provides self-esteem and sense of self. It does
provide the image of belonging to the world (Tajfel,1979). This can also help enhance the selfimage in certain discoursed groups . Identity can change with the influence of the group, like
norms or trends. Many people can change it as they grow or changing their point of view in
situations. In a social setting the identity can change to what they believe is right from their
group. The role of a student can be to be responsible and prepared. Following their peers
influence, they can become disorganized and unwilling. Which they change to conform into the
group so they do not stand out or become an outcast. High school students experience this a lot
because of their identity not being well developed. Another high school example is the clicks,
groups of students formed based on common interest. They first label themselves then later
compare their group or click to other groups who are the opposite of them. The identification
then helps them conform to the norms based on the categorization, the outcome is then to
execute the expected role. This helps students become the essential student, and football players

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become the stereotypical football players. From this the connection of self-esteem is also based
on the group.
Since normative conformity is based on to fulfill others expectations and gain acceptance
(Myers, 2009). Identity is a process to teenagers in their developing state. Positive aspects of
conformity can be a awareness to their actions. As well as the student body can move as a whole.
If students did not regulate their schedules or lives to certain expectations, then conformity
would not be taking place. For example homework would not be as efficient if others did not
observe the behavior. This proves that students can go through personal sacrifice to only
essentially be part of the group function as one ( Prapavessis & Carron, 1997).
In the interview with Carlos Rubalcaba, the psychologist stated while working in the public
school as a counselor, a lot of students were basically only focusing on belonging to the group
that most fascinated them. Defining it as morphing observing little by little students would
change their beliefs and behaviors to then fit in with their intended group. Realizing after those
students changed academically as well. Whoever students chose to try to morph in their
behavior then reflected as the expected role. Labels after started to rise, with the students some
who werent comfortable with their new title others who were proud. Another factor involved in
expected roles is gender. During high school women and men start to analyze the different roles
they have to complete. This the Rubalcaba stated that it set the differences between men and
women.

Why do social norms help influence a teenagers behavior to change and avoid social
rejection?

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Norms are always changing, they are behaviors or some rules that are accepted by a
community of people or society. Teenagers that do not follow the norms are usually shunned or
like in high school they are excluded from the in-crowd. Teenagers mostly follow injunctive
norms which is behavior that is either approved or disapproved by others (Aronson, Wilson, &
Akert, 2010). Many follow the norms of peer pressure. When a person is pressured to smoke
marijuana and if they dont they are disapproved of in the group. Also the same as fearing
rejection when offered to join a certain club like book club and feeling accepted. Or seen equally
as strange when joining the certain club and being rejected . Many of these influence the
behavior to change because they are uneasy with their identity so they follow the majority group.
This mainly comes from avoiding the rejection so they wont feel wrong or banned from the incrowd. This can be harmful because the norms can limit the individual in their decisions. From
there, they start to question themselves and their beliefs after they start to just conform to society
and go along with peer pressure.
However, not all peer pressure is bad some is positive like being pressured to go to a group
study, or even actually joining a club like student council. Norms do go along with social identity
because everyone has a different take on the norm in high school. They can settle a boundary
when some behavior is necessary to portray. As example helping older citizens or respecting
authority.
In high school recurring problems happen everyday, that the members then look for a solution
that can correlate from the common setting to common behaviors (Alcock, 1998). However,
some can argue that now in recent studies stay outside of norms. The debate then includes that
the kids who defy the norms experience higher abuse (Roberts, 2012). Studies also prove that
these teenagers do result as normal but after patterns of constant abuse develop PTSD.

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What are the outcomes of social conformity in teenagers?

Many outcomes from social conformity are formed, it helps develop a relationship with your
identity and social identity. As well as, to later in the future adjust to diversity. Every teenager
does not go through the same norms or social setting. It also defines the behavior and trends the
younger generation uses. Basically, everyone conforms to avoid to look different or strange.
Normative conformity is the most common everywhere it is when a person changes behavior
to fit in the social group ( Deautsch and Gerard 1955). What everyone most likely also sees as
an outcome is compliance, when following the social groups behavior but internally not agreeing
with the groups perception. In teenagers experience many do have both positive and negative
experiences but it mostly comes with the persons decisions. A contributing factor is the support
they have of family and friends. It also can help an individual analyze different positions they
take. People who do suffer different negative outcomes like anxiety, depression and disorders; do
not necessarily conform to social standards which can be the cause of the negative outcomes.
Social conformity presents many details in peoples experiences in social groups.
Negative outcomes also come from conformity for example, physical abuse, bullying, sexual
abuse and developing depressive disorders. Studies show when women who are nonconforming
are at sixty percent greater risk for sexual abuse than conforming women age range from sixteen
to twenty-seven (Roberts, 2012). High school students should not feel any different because of
effects norms and stereotypes have on their setting. However, as the saying goes it gets better
and with shifting roles every year more people now become more acceptable to these certain
individuals.
Positive aspects are more influence in personal decisions, as well as growing to find close
interest to have new knowledge . Adulthood does not change conformity and its influence

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however, it does get easier to acknowledge and understand. Carlos Rubalcaba then finished the
interview with describing how this phenomenon is a wide range of many answers but the final
answer that is for certain is that everyone does it. Everyone does come as a type of union to
become a individual in society. A fundamental in society is conformity to have a social
movement and progress includes active members to act on the standards and norms which have
been previously settled. What is the change is the approach everyone has from society.

Conclusion
Many answers can be drawn from social conformity but there is positives and negatives that
have been widely analyzed and studied by sociologist and psychologist. The definition of
conforming is ever changing because of how fast new generations have shifting roles (Friedman,
2012). We know the causes of social conformity but what the curiosity is, are the decisions
people take to go to certain levels of either defying or being accepted. How the experiences help
shape their identity and morals as they grow older. Either way, they all affect students in high
school now to later determine different success and failures in their own passions. Growing at
their own pace soon it all changes and new standards are input to follow, which change every
generation keeping it more challenging to study the phenomenon.

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