Final answer:
Conformity is the adjustment of one's behaviors or beliefs to match the norms or expectations of a group. This often comes from a desire to fit in or be accepted by others, and can lead to phenomena such as groupthink, where critical thinking is overridden for the sake of group consensus.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people are worried about what others think of them and decide to go along with the crowd, this behavior is commonly referred to as conformity. Conformity is the tendency to act or believe in ways that align with social norms or the beliefs of a group. There are different types of social influences that cause individuals to conform, including normative social influence, where one changes behavior to be accepted by the group, and informational social influence, where the belief is that the group holds the correct information. Another related concept is groupthink, which occurs in group settings where members modify their opinion to what they perceive to be the group consensus. This can result in poor decision-making as the group might take action without critical thinking, sometimes making more extreme decisions than individuals would on their own. The drive to conform can stem from the desire to fit in or to avoid standing out, and young people are acutely aware of the distinctions between those who conform and those who do not.