Why do people fall into groups instead of being themselves?

Question

I remeber being new in High School(i moved a lot so this was an often thing:) at lunch and watching all the groups. As in the jocks, the popular rich kids,the rednecks,the weird nerds,the normal nerds(theres a difference), And of course the "gangsters". Why do people find it necessary to find a group and just stay there and change themselves to fit in. Its beginning to seem like individuality is fading in america. Now that I'm out I am still noticing this among my peers. Whats the deal?

Answer 1

comfort in numbers and instead of exploring who they are they join a crowd and follow-but it doesnt matter eventually they will find themselves

Answer 2

It's impossible to be not fall into a sterotype of group, it's just the way humanity works. We copy each other, we seek belonging, and acceptance. Of course you alway is yourself with your own style and personality, but it is influenced by sterotypes. Well, that's just how things are, it plays into the theory of the survival of the fittest. Nerds, geeks, jocks, popular, rich, and attractive people will always come out on top. Everyone is just a stepping stone to elevate those people. Losers, unpopular, poor, different, loners are what popular people compare themselves to, to know that they're better. It helps them know not to do this or that, and teach them to be a certain way in order to survive or move up the ranks of social status in society. But if you think about it, who chooses to be a nerd, a loser, loner, unpopular, a nobody basically? No one does, at least until they know that they are a nobody. Things like this just sort of happens to them. It's the way their families raise them, their genetics, their environment, life basically. And they can't do anything about it, you just have to accept this is who you are, this is what you will become, if you don't like the way you are now, change it. It's all about self-discipline. Just think, if you don't like yourself, how do you think others can do the same?

Answer 3

I was a weird nerd in high school. I believe in the individual. Others classified me as such, even though I was in cheer leading and the drill team. I had friends all over campus, so my free time was busy. Looking back at high school, I was never bored. If nothing was happening with one group of friends, I went or called another group to see what they were doing...If by some small chance, no one was doing anything, I'd organize a hangout, though not usually at my house...too small, but anyway, groups are part of human nature. Classification is what we do best, so just go with it, and enjoy life, be nice to everyone, because what goes around, comes around.

Answer 4

Groups keep things simple. Imagine if there were no groups. You just had a random assortment of friends. And say that I go to your school and I also have a random assortment of friends. And we're just friends, we're not dating, right? So we'd like to go hang out with a bunch of people this weekend. I invite some of my other friends and so do you. But my friends don't know your friends. So they're not comfortable talking about certain things with these strangers... and it's just not possible to get to know ALL the kids in the school. So it's a lot more awkward. Maybe in time, my friends get to know your friends... but now we've just formed a *new* clique.

If you and I are both jocks and we have all the same jock friends it's easy to just get all the jocks together and go out. The reason we have friends is that a lot of times you like to hang out with people you know. If we all have different friends, we're all going to always end up hanging out with strangers.

We also get sorted by our interests. The jock is going to be really bored of hearing the nerd talk about programming when he doesn't know what the guy's talking about etc...

Answer 5

It's the natural influence of the social environment. If you become friends with someone from a social clique of "whatever," then there's a good chance that their traits will begin to rub off on you. It has to do with influence, as well as the feeling of belonging. Sometimes you have traits that are shared with that group, and you just fit in. Other times people change themselves to fit in with a certain group. In young society, it's either be a part of the group, or be the outcast. And rarely do people enjoy being on the outer link.

Answer 6

this is because the group has influence over the individual. our whole lives we belong to a specific group. first it is the family, then our peers at school and later on its our coworkers. we all crave acceptance and comfort and that only comes from other peoples opinions of us. our character is usually built on our own ideas of what other people like. this is most apparent in teenagers because the have such a big fear of not belonging or standing out. if you belong to a group it gives you power and control to a point as well.
lets not forget that human beings are social creatures and as such we they need to socialize and belong.

sorry i know i may have babbled on a bit ...

Answer 7

I think you're right in that people will become more interested in hard sciences if it is first explained to them why they are interesting. However I am confused in the first place about why we are trying to get more females into hard sciences. I am taking science at university (and am a woman) and in my chemistry and biology classes, I would estimate that there are actually more females than males. On top of that, half of my science classes were taught by women. I am currently working towards a science degree in geography, one of my good friends (female) is working towards a double major in math and physics, another two female friends of mine are majoring in biochemistry, and nearly all of my other friends (female) are in biology or chemistry. So what's the problem. If there is, overall, a lack of females in the hard sciences then it is their choice that they don't want to work in that field. The soft sciences are no less important. In fact, I would argue that geography is one of the most important fields out there, as it is the spatial application of all the main sciences plus more. But of course, I am biased here, haha.

Answer 8

Exactly. What's up with that?!
Strength comes in numbers, my friend.
With a group it's easier to not be singled out I guess as suppose to actually being on your own.
In a clique/ group, these individuals feel a sense of 'belonging' in something.
Individuality/ uniqueness are sadly, frowned upon.
So that prevents people from being who they are because they could risk being ostracized.

Answer 9

I am totally against sterotyping a groups and clicks... i might dress a certian way but the dosen't make me a emo or punk right... i am sweet and love everyone i don't like groups i have friends in all the groups... i could be in any group i want but i don't like belonging to a group i wish i could tell my highschool that groups are over rated and we should try finding friends out side our bubble...but no one will listen to a freshman!!

Answer 10

One thing I don't do is JOIN anything... I am a complete individual and loner... it works well for me but pisses thoses off around me. Many MANY people do not understand my desire or need for no one.

High school was hilarious watching all those who needed to be "a part " of something. What a waste of time that was for me.

Aaaaaaaaaaaagh life is good when you can think for yourself!!!

Answer 11

With so many people what group do you place the individuals in?