You are at a football game with your friends, though you aren't a football fan. nonetheless, when "the wave" comes your way, you stand up and take part. afterward, you feel surprised that you did such a silly thing that you don't really even enjoy. a sociologist explains that you were influenced by the behavior of those close to you, which is called theory.

The correct answer is the social contagion theory. 

The social contagion theory refers to a theory that explains crowd behavior. According to this theory, a crowd or group's behavior starts and "spreads" to individuals in the crowd, leading them to take part in the behavior or action. According to this theory, our behavior is influenced by those in close proximity to us. This explains why you might participate in the "wave" even though its something you would normally find silly.