If a sociologist observes that people often follow social norms without questioning them, what underlying cause might explain this behavior?

When a sociologist notices that people tend to follow social norms without questioning them, one possible underlying cause is the influence of socialization. Socialization is the process through which individuals learn the values, beliefs, and behaviors that are considered acceptable in their culture. From a young age, people are taught what is right and wrong, often through family, schools, and media. For example, if everyone in a community greets each other with a smile, newcomers will likely adopt this behavior without thinking much about it. This shows how deeply ingrained social norms can shape our actions, making us follow them automatically.