A group of friends begins to ridicule a member for wearing an outfit that is considered unusual within their social circle. What underlying mechanism of social control is primarily at play in this scenario?

In this scenario, the underlying mechanism of social control at play is peer pressure. Peer pressure occurs when individuals feel compelled to conform to the expectations and norms of their social group. When the friends ridicule the member for their unusual outfit, they are enforcing the group's standards of what is acceptable or fashionable. This can lead to the targeted individual feeling embarrassed or ashamed, which may push them to change their behavior to fit in better. For example, if the member decides to stop wearing unique clothes to avoid further ridicule, they are responding to the social control exerted by their peers.