“The Power of Conformity”
Many people are susceptible to conformity all the time, whether it’s conforming to a social groups, a culture or either total strangers. On the other hand, some people wish to be more individualistic, separating from the group and branching out on their own ideas. And others just want to be a part of that happy medium. “The term conformity is often used to indicate an agreement to the majority position, brought about either by a desire to ‘fit in’ or be liked or because of a desire to be correct, or simply to conform to a social role” (McLeod,2007, 1). In the 1950’s a psychologist named Solomon Asch, wanted to experiment and figure out how powerful conformity’s influence on an individual actually was. Asch hypothesized that perpetual conformity would cause his subjects to conform to others’ perceptions.
The type of research done was experimentation. Asch would have subjects come into his lab and participate in “visual perception study” (Hock, 2013, 294). However, Asch would have all but one person in on the experiment. The subject, would not know this, and the experiment would be based off of their will to conform or not to conform, making them the experimental group (or person). There was also a control group in which the subjects were not asked to verbally asses the lines but write them down. The group would be shown a picture, with different lengthen lines, and then would be asked to compare them with a single line to see which line was same. When asked which line was the same the confederates would give the wrong answer, creating the dependent variable. The experimental subject would go last, and would now have to make a decision, whether to conform to the group or to choose the right answer and go against the majority. This would then create the independent variable as to whether or not the subject would conform or not.
This lead to a very positive correlation with conformity. When the majority said the wrong answer, the subject was more likely to answer wrong as well. And when the majority answered right as well, the subject would answer right as well. Each subject participated in this experimental situation several times, which lead to 75% of subjects conforming to the group’s wrong decision at least one time (Hock, 2013, 294). Another interesting result showed that “participants agreed with the group on the incorrect responses about one- third of the time (Hock, 2013, 294). Subjects in the control group who wrote their answers down were right 98% of the time (Hock, 2013, 294).
This is a great experiment, because it shows how much humans are susceptible to conformity. Many people think, “Oh in that situation I would have said the right thing”, but in the real world when it’s you against the majority, more than likely you will go with the group. This experiment showed that “Conformity as a major factor in human behavior, the subject of widespread speculation for years, had now been scientifically established.” (Hock, 2013, 295). And I think this is important to understand because in our world you can look out and see people conforming to the ideas of the group, rather then what they actually believe. And this is a very prevalent thing with our adolescents, because they are just coming to know themselves, and they want to be a part of something. No one wants to be alone, and when you have to make that decision to share a same idea you are not alone and accepted by the group.
This experiment ties in with the behavioral research done in psychology and it is interesting to see how humans behave when in certain situations. As I stated earlier most people would state that they would go out on a limb and be an individual. However, it has been proven that more than likely, you will conform to then group. Conformity is a part of humans, and a behavior we cannot shake. We are like to be a part of the group and more times than none will abide by the groups unwritten rules just to feel accepted.
I could use this information in my own life by sometimes stepping back when in a group and thinking about what situations I am being put in. Understanding that my opinions may not always agree with the majority, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and be yourself. But also know that there are times when it is okay to conform, and that you don’t always have to be the individual, that stands alone. It’s all about staying in that happy medium for yourself.
This connects to our text book like Milgram’s social obedience study done in 2009. Miglram tested how people would react to false authority. And whether the participant would listen to the “authorities” instructions or choose to say no and stop the experiment. However Milgram found that most people would continue to go on with the experiment besides, the individual’s knowledge that it was wrong. This shows how the power of conformity overwhelms and individual and consumes them. They understand that is wrong, but they hold the ideals of the group higher than the, morals instilled in them throughout life as an individual.
Works Cited
Hock. Forty Studies That Changed Psychology. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2013. Print. The Power of Conformity.
Ciccarelli, Saudra K., and J. White. Psychology. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2104. Print. Delta Psychology.
McLeod, Saul. Simple Psychology. Web. 2007. What is Conformity?.
Many people are susceptible to conformity all the time, whether it’s conforming to a social groups, a culture or either total strangers. On the other hand, some people wish to be more individualistic, separating from the group and branching out on their own ideas. And others just want to be a part of that happy medium. “The term conformity is often used to indicate an agreement to the majority position, brought about either by a desire to ‘fit in’ or be liked or because of a desire to be correct, or simply to conform to a social role” (McLeod,2007, 1). In the 1950’s a psychologist named Solomon Asch, wanted to experiment and figure out how powerful conformity’s influence on an individual actually was. Asch hypothesized that perpetual conformity would cause his subjects to conform to others’ perceptions.
The type of research done was experimentation. Asch would have subjects come into his lab and participate in “visual perception study” (Hock, 2013, 294). However, Asch would have all but one person in on the experiment. The subject, would not know this, and the experiment would be based off of their will to conform or not to conform, making them the experimental group (or person). There was also a control group in which the subjects were not asked to verbally asses the lines but write them down. The group would be shown a picture, with different lengthen lines, and then would be asked to compare them with a single line to see which line was same. When asked which line was the same the confederates would give the wrong answer, creating the dependent variable. The experimental subject would go last, and would now have to make a decision, whether to conform to the group or to choose the right answer and go against the majority. This would then create the independent variable as to whether or not the subject would conform or not.
This lead to a very positive correlation with conformity. When the majority said the wrong answer, the subject was more likely to answer wrong as well. And when the majority answered right as well, the subject would answer right as well. Each subject participated in this experimental situation several times, which lead to 75% of subjects conforming to the group’s wrong decision at least one time (Hock, 2013, 294). Another interesting result showed that “participants agreed with the group on the incorrect responses about one- third of the time (Hock, 2013, 294). Subjects in the control group who wrote their answers down were right 98% of the time (Hock, 2013, 294).
This is a great experiment, because it shows how much humans are susceptible to conformity. Many people think, “Oh in that situation I would have said the right thing”, but in the real world when it’s you against the majority, more than likely you will go with the group. This experiment showed that “Conformity as a major factor in human behavior, the subject of widespread speculation for years, had now been scientifically established.” (Hock, 2013, 295). And I think this is important to understand because in our world you can look out and see people conforming to the ideas of the group, rather then what they actually believe. And this is a very prevalent thing with our adolescents, because they are just coming to know themselves, and they want to be a part of something. No one wants to be alone, and when you have to make that decision to share a same idea you are not alone and accepted by the group.
This experiment ties in with the behavioral research done in psychology and it is interesting to see how humans behave when in certain situations. As I stated earlier most people would state that they would go out on a limb and be an individual. However, it has been proven that more than likely, you will conform to then group. Conformity is a part of humans, and a behavior we cannot shake. We are like to be a part of the group and more times than none will abide by the groups unwritten rules just to feel accepted.
I could use this information in my own life by sometimes stepping back when in a group and thinking about what situations I am being put in. Understanding that my opinions may not always agree with the majority, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and be yourself. But also know that there are times when it is okay to conform, and that you don’t always have to be the individual, that stands alone. It’s all about staying in that happy medium for yourself.
This connects to our text book like Milgram’s social obedience study done in 2009. Miglram tested how people would react to false authority. And whether the participant would listen to the “authorities” instructions or choose to say no and stop the experiment. However Milgram found that most people would continue to go on with the experiment besides, the individual’s knowledge that it was wrong. This shows how the power of conformity overwhelms and individual and consumes them. They understand that is wrong, but they hold the ideals of the group higher than the, morals instilled in them throughout life as an individual.
Works Cited
Hock. Forty Studies That Changed Psychology. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2013. Print. The Power of Conformity.
Ciccarelli, Saudra K., and J. White. Psychology. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2104. Print. Delta Psychology.
McLeod, Saul. Simple Psychology. Web. 2007. What is Conformity?.