Something that we've recently been talking about that I think is very interesting is the study done by Asch. Conformity is very relevant in everyday life. The test done by Asch is very interesting because we'd all like to think that we wouldn't conform but in reality, that pressure can really get to someone. I would like to think that if I was in the study I wouldn't conform and stick to my beliefs, but that really would depend on the number of people and the people involved. If it were some of my very good friends, I know for a fact that I would feel them judging me and I would be much more likely to conform.
It was also very interesting how the older guy really thought that he was more mature and didn't think he was going to conform, yet did much faster than most the other people. The three social influences that make the biggest difference for what Asch say's are unanimity, difference in the wrong answer and size. I definitely agree with all of these, especially the difference in the wrong answer because if everyone gave the same wrong answer it increases the pressure by a lot, creating the appearance that you're wrong, but when one person answers with the correct response, the level of conformity decreases by three fourths. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy hearing about this study because it is so relevant to society today and trying to fit in.
Conforming
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Interesting post and study. I have thought a lot about this experiment since we viewed it in our discussion class and I feel like it would be so easy to not conform. I am a much more stubborn person so I feel as thought I would stick with what I thought, but I guess you never know til you are put in that situation. I feel like with they study we were shown in class that the people wouldn't feel the need to conform cause the answers were so obvious, that's where I thought it was weird, I feel like I would be more likely to conform if I was unsure about the answer to begin with and not if I was sure of myself.
I agree that Ash's study about conformity was very interesting! It was funny to watch, but probably not fun to participate in. I thought that it was interesting to see the reactions, frustration, carelessness, and even sadness of people. The so called "non-conformist" guy was hilarious! I couldn't believe he claimed that he was a non conformist and was the first to conform quicker than the other two participants. I feel that I am a very stubborn person and if I were to be in that situation I wouldn't conform, but the fundamental attribution error might say otherwise. Great post!
I also thought this topic was interesting. I also would like to think that I wouldn't conform, but realistically if I was in a room with a bunch of people I didn't know, I would probably conform. I do not like being wrong, but when everyone else is saying the same answer, I would not like to stick out more.
I found this study to be really interesting as well because it kind of goes against what people think of themselves, like the self-claimed non-conformist who ended up conforming a lot faster than the others. I feel like if I were in a situation with people I didn't know I would be much more likely to conform because I wouldn't want to be judged, but if I was with my friends or people I know I would probably not conform because I already feel secure in my position with them. It's a funny thing and I would kind of like to see what I would do if I was put in that position without knowing I was.
Conformity is something that has been useful for so long, it's no surprise that many people will conform to the others. Majority votes against a person often can convince them that they may be deviant from their group, the extreme results of which in our evolutionary history could have meant starvation or becoming subject to predation.
I thought this study was interesting also. I thought it was pretty funny that the self proclaimed non-conformist was the earliest to conform of all the other test subjects. I can definitely see why most people conform. I know as much as I wouldn't want to I probably would because of the pressure. I would also question whether or not I was the one that understood the directions correctly.
The study by Asch is so influential! I cannot believe how almost all of the people in the study conformed. For me I feel that I would be able to not conform but I have never been in that type of situation so I am not 100% sure that I wouldn't conform. Really great blog!
True! Super relevant and important to life. I personally would have suupper struggled in that experiment. I would have had to break the rules and ask questions to see why everyone was answering wrong. I have a stronger urge to understand and discuss than I do to conform. (which is why I can't sit in the lecture hall...drives me CRAZY!!)
I completely agree with what you are saying. People hate being the "odd man out". This is also seen when the little kids are watching Power Rangers and all of the little kids get up and start "fighting". There is the one little girl who doesn't join in until she starts to feel very isolated. People seek to conform to one another and typically seek a way of avoiding isolation.
I also found this experiment very interesting! I like to think i wouldn't conform, but I'm sure if I were in that situation I for sure would. An example of how many students conform is in classrooms when the professor asks a multiple choice question and asks students to raise their hands for the answer they think is correct. Many students who are almost certain they know the answer but most all other students raise their hand for another answer will find themselves falling under pressure and conforming with the majority of the class.