Homophily is the tendency to ...

• A. The tendency to associate and bond with similar others.
• B. The tendency to bond with dissimilar others
• C. The tendency to conform to group norms
• D. The tendency to avoid social ties

Answer: (A)

Homophily is the tendency to form social ties with people who are similar to us. This happens because similarity makes communication easier, builds trust, and reinforces shared norms, making interactions smoother and relationships more stable. That’s why people often cluster with others who share similar backgrounds, beliefs, or interests. The other patterns describe different ideas: bonding with dissimilar others is heterophily, conforming to group norms is conformity, and avoiding social ties is social withdrawal.