Asch Conformity Experiment (2/2)

Asch conformity experiments
The Asch conformity experiments were a series of studies published in the 1950s that demonstrated the power of conformity in groups. These are also known as the "Asch Paradigm".

Introduction
Experiments led by Solomon Asch asked groups of students to participate in a "vision test." In reality, all but one of the participants were confederates of the experimenter, and the study was really about how the remaining students would react to the confederates' behavior.

Method
In the basic Asch paradigm, the participants — the real subjects and the confederates — were all seated in a classroom. They were asked a variety of questions about the lines such as how long is A, compare the length of A to an everyday object, which line was longer than the other, which lines were the same length, etc. The group was told to announce their answers to each question out loud. The confederates always provided their answers before the study participant, and always gave the same answer as each other. They answered a few questions correctly but eventually began providing incorrect responses.
In a control group, with no pressure to conform to an erroneous view, only one subject out of 35 ever gave an incorrect answer. Solomon Asch hypothesized that the majority of people would not conform to something obviously wrong; however, when surrounded by individuals all voicing an incorrect answer, participants provided incorrect responses on a high proportion of the questions (32%). Seventy-five percent of the participants gave an incorrect answer to at least one question.

Results
Variations of the basic paradigm tested how many confederates were necessary to induce conformity, examining the influence of just 1 confederate and as many as 15 confederates. Results indicate that 1 confederate has virtually no influence and 2 confederates have only a small influence. When 3 or more confederates are present, the tendency to conform is relatively stable.
The unanimity of the confederates has also been varied. When the confederates are not unanimous in their judgment, even if only 1 confederate voices a different opinion, participants are much more likely to resist the urge to conform than when the confederates all agree. This finding illuminates the power that even a small dissenting minority can have. Interestingly, this finding holds whether or not the dissenting confederate gives the correct answer. As long as the dissenting confederate gives an answer that is different from the majority, participants are more likely to give the correct answer.
One difference between the Asch conformity experiments and the Milgram experiment as carried out by Stanley Milgram (also famous in social psychology) is that the subjects of these studies attributed their performance to their own misjudgment and "poor eyesight", while those in the Milgram experiment blamed the experimenter in explaining their behavior. Conformity may be much less salient than authority pressure.
The Asch experiments may provide some vivid empirical evidence relevant to some of the ideas raised in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (see 2 + 2 = 5). This also helps illustrate the concept of "point at a deer and call it a horse" (simplified Chinese: 指鹿为马; traditional Chinese: 指鹿為馬) that was made infamous by Zhao Gao.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Solomon
• Asch
• conformity
• Experiment
• Paradigm
• education
• social
• science
• consensus
• design
• fashion
• psychology

[WarzSchoolchild]

I took part in one of these Asch trials at College. I got up with a piece of paper, measuring the two equal lines, so demonstrating the correct answer. A short time later the College had me interviewd by a Psychiatrist. They were worried about my non-conformist responses. People who don't conform are seen as a threat. the purpose of my interview was to prevent the 'herd' from also being non-conformist. The College was labelling me as mad bad and dangerous to know!

[nonaCbarC]

@WarzSchoolchild

Well done, Bro. That's what I would have done!!!

[ThatWhiteDJ]

@213jbk But if our are a stuck up Atheist like me,it wont work...

[WarzSchoolchild]

@AstaLaFiga ~ The Dogs of War have been unleashed yet again as you correctly point out. Dr. Alan Sabrosky, Director of Strategic Studies at The US War College, and now Editor, Veterans Today, often explained to his students that years of war strategy preparations and plans often becomes so much waste peper in the first ten minutes of conflict. It may take a few days to recognize this fact. Dr. Alan is at a loss to understand how so many Americans in High Office hold "Dual-Citizenship"....Hmmm!?!

[AstaLaFiga]

@WarzSchoolchild just another confirm of the continuous lobotomization of the american people! Keep fighting man or you will be fought in the 3th world war that is coming against iran and russia! Oh, and try to free many people as you can

[TheXXSTUNTMUTTXx]

haha love that guys porno stashXD another proof of conformity

[WarzSchoolchild]

@weiss0nicht ~ Oops! Major Entwisle (En-Twistle = end-twisting-road) Military Chaplaincy has been fascinating andvery rewarding, I have no regrets, serving as private chaplain to The Lord High Constable and Knight Marshal of Scotland since January 1999. Every soldier in Scotland's Regiments is one of my flock. This year my request a plantation of Rowan Trees in the Glen of Loch Lomand was granted. commemorating those fallen in battle, and the Knight Marshal's Rowan has burst into WINTER bloom!

[weiss0nicht]

@WarzSchoolchild Wow that's kinda horrible. And all because you didn't conform to the majority?

[WarzSchoolchild]

@weiss0nicht ~ No, I was unaware that this was an experiment. Wellington College, prepared students for a Military Carreer,..as it happened I became a Military Chaplain, by default. Major Entwhistle informed me that I was of no use to the Army! my record was permanently marked "Unsuitable!".

[weiss0nicht]

@WarzSchoolchild Did you know about the Asch-Experiment before taking part in that experiment?

[redjurij]

@WarzSchoolchild After seeing you are from UK it reminded me of the movie V for Vendetta who was also based in UK.

[jermd1990]

@213jbk

>implying anyone who smokes cannabis is more paranoid than your average YouTube conspiracy theorist

[jermd1990]

@213jbk

Conspiracy theorists are cute.