We want to "fit in". We follow certain rules that are accepted by our society. We are motivated by the Approval Motive.
Why are we influenced by others?
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
Mahatma Gandhi was a beloved leader in India that led the people to India's independence from British rule. He was loved by the people and led them by "stressing passive resistance, nonviolent disobedience, boycotts and on occasion, hunger strikes" (Nikolov 2013). He knew the people that he served, their struggles and concerns, and he was an example of his non-violent civil disobedience "satyagraha" (Nikolov, 2013). Compassion, love, and example were key in Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and influence.
How can an average student, not even accepted to an university, influence others to obliterate an entire society and people? Hitler took a society that had been badly beaten and gave them hope to "reclaim international power and prestige" (Martinez, Mclaughlin, Porter, Tamara 2011). He destroyed the existing education system and focused the new system on his own ideals and obedience to those ideals. "Many of the nation's teachers, scholars, artists and preachers were driven out of their positions" (Martinez, Mclaughlin, Porter, Tamara 2011). Hitler gave power to people that were obedient to his way of thinking. Creating a society that focused on obedience and educating them in certain ways of thinking was key in the Nazi regime.