Unit 8 Psy
1.In Asch’s experiment he examines conformity by taking note of the number of times the real participant conformed to the majority of the group. The subject in the experiment began to “second guess” himself when he knew the right answer, but the majority of the group picked the wrong answer. It didn’t make sense to him. He stated at one point that there were four of them and one of him so they had to be right. Right? Some of the circumstances that contribute to conformity is the status of the participants, the situation in which the individual was responding, social support, and the unanimity of the group. A lot of people conform because there is a distortion of their own judgment, as I said before the participant in the study knew the right answer, but chose the wrong one because their were “four of them and one” of him. People like to avoid “making waves” or being embarrassed for not fitting in. Or as in normative conformity, they don’t want to be disapproved of because of their deviance, as referenced in the video. I personally don’t feel the need to conform now, I’ve learned to be my own person and stand for what I believe in. As a child, I conformed to things quite often due to peer pressure and wanting to fit in. Sometimes I was even forced to conform.
Feldman, R. S. (2020). Essentials of understanding psychology. (14th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
HeroicImaginationTV. (2012, February 20). Asch Conformity Experiment. YouTube. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyDDyT1lDhA
2.
How is the principle of conformity examined? It is “conformity examined” by a group of individuals who participated in the study, like a critical trial. He stated that “I want to give you a test of your visual acuity, your sensitivity to differences in line lengths, so I am going to show you three comparison lines lengths” It was about social pressure.
When and why do you think the subject in the experiment began to “second guess” himself? He allowed his pier’s thoughts/ answers to overcome his. He did not go with his original thought; hearing others repeat the same answer, he must have thought it was the right response. So when did this happen? The third trial is when it started it begun with hearing “two, two, two” repeatedly, and when it became the subject in question’s turn to give his answer, he paused and second-guessed the answer he wanted to give.
“something happens two, two, two, two, to the subject denies the evidence of his own eyes and yields to the group.”
Why do you think some participants would be more likely to conform than others? I believe that Ash’s study proves that people as easily influenced by what others may do. If you have a group of 6 individuals and you ask them all the same question about life, at least two them six are going to repeat what the other person said. This study made me think about how the environment we are placed in can take over an individual mindset. We react off on what we see and or are taught.
There are many reasons why people conform. Were you ever in a situation where you had to conform? Why did you feel the need to conform? I have never been placed in this situation ever. I have always had a brain of my own; I never along another person’s thoughts or feelings take affect me or cloud my judgment in any way. I am very outspoken.
What are some of the circumstances in the experiment which contribute to “conformity”?
It’s all about social influences. When others in a group are of a higher social status, others who are not may lean more to there response thinking they are more “knowledgeable” than themselves.
Why do you think some participants would be more likely to conform than others? Idk. It’s just something that happens. I guess others are not as strong-minded as others are.
Answer:
To expand on the circumstances that contribute to conformity in the Asch experiment, some factors include the size and unanimity of the group, the ambiguity of the task or situation, the culture and social norms of the group, and the individual characteristics of the participants such as their personality traits and level of self-esteem. For example, participants may be more likely to conform when they perceive that the group is highly cohesive and their individual responses may threaten group harmony. Additionally, participants with lower self-esteem or a greater need for social approval may be more likely to conform in order to avoid rejection or disapproval from the group.
It’s important to note that conformity is a complex social phenomenon that can have both positive and negative consequences. While conformity can help individuals fit in with their social group and avoid conflict, it can also lead to groupthink and a lack of critical thinking. It’s important for individuals to balance the need for social acceptance with the ability to think critically and make independent judgments.
