Asch’s Conformity Experiment on Groupthink

In the 1950s the psychologist Solomon Asch devised a study to investigate whether peer pressure can be strong enough to change our perception, and make us believe in things that are not true. To do so, he set up a clever experiment on conformity that raises questions about our ability to think freely.

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COLLABORATORS
Script: Jonas Koblin
Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
Voice: Matt Abbott
Coloring: Nalin
Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
Production: Selina Bador
Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda

SOUNDTRACKS
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SOURCES
Solomon Asch - wikipedia
Nicholson, N., Cole, S.G., & Rocklin, T.R. (1985). Conformity in the Asch situation: A comparison between contemporary British and US university students. British Journal of Social Psychology, 24, 59-63.
Mori K, Arai M. No need to fake it: reproduction of the Asch experiment without confederates. Int J Psychol. 2010 Oct 1;45(5):390-7. doi: 10.1080/00207591003774485. PMID: 22044061.
Bandwagon Effect - wikipedia
Asch conformity experiments - wikipedia

CLASSROOM EXERCISE
Visit our website to learn more about suggested exercise for the classroom on this topic!

CHAPTER
00:00 Can you solve this?
00:20 The true story
00:57 Solomon Asch
01:30 Asch's Conformity Experiment
03:11 Experiment conclusion
04:23 Solomon Asch's quote
04:45 What do you think?
05:12 Patron credits
05:20 Ending

#conformity #asch #peerpressure #sproutsschools #psychology #sproutslearning

[NovaLand]

It's only when you have a strong opinion and can firmly stand on your own ground that you can tacle peer pressure. For someone who might be a bit insecure it's not easy. You do concider what "price" you have to pay for telling the truth.

[billmcdonald]

I had a scenario where I was the odd man out; it was during a naval exercise. I was the only radar operator to correctly understand what was happening during a simulated night combat. Command zoned on an unconnected radar contact; they thought it was our adversary. I was tracking our adversary, and made no bones about it. Command ignored me, and we were attacked and sunk in the very manner I predicted by the very contact I was tracking. To be a non-conformist in that situation only made things worse for me - I was told I was going to be charged for insubordination before the simulated attack. Making my Division Officer look bad did me no favours going forward. You'd think I'd have gotten an 'attaboy' - but no. I was written up as insubordinate anyways.

[daniels]

An interesting study! I love psychology as a subject, never studied it myself but it’s really interesting to learn how people think.

[simoni]

The "reviews" technique in online markets is a real life application of this. Even if one had different perception of a product, when they read the reviews that speak more of the opposite perception, it will likely change their original perception.

[shrirajkun]

I never got opportunity to study psychology but sprout school make it possible easily in short span.

[steelhead]

Many other experiments confirm the conclusions of Asche. Would seem to me that going along with the group is mostly a fear of standing up for what you see, but because perhaps there is some survival mechanism at work whereby even though they know they are not being honest, their survival in general is more guaranteed by being in line with the majority, that the impulse to survive outweighs the temporary dishonesty to self. Herd animals always go with the herd if possible as there is more safety in numbers vs being out there alone.

[flyingturretthecannon]

Quick quote that relates, "If everybody agrees, then somebody isn't thinking."

[mr.sushi]

Conformity holds society back in many ways. Doing something “ because it is the way it is” or even accepting that premise is freaking stupid.

[TheCârtiță]

I really thought i was going to be told that i was wrong in some way. What a video, beyond my expectations!

[Youbeentagged]

I tried this experiment myself in school.

About 6 of us would give the wrong answer in class, just to see what the rest of the class would answer.

It really helped that the 6 of us were the toppers of our class, and therefore very few others would try to oppose our answer.

In a class of about 23 people, there were those (5) who never answer a question (the backbenchers who don't care about school).

A few others (7) were too shy to answer questions anyways, even though they were smart.

Out of the remaining 5, we had 1 who would always steamroll everyone. This guy always gave the answer he thought was correct, and did call a lot of people stupid.

The other 4 did conform to everything we (the toppers) said.


It was a really great day, I only wish the teacher was involved in the experiment, so they'd also enjoy observing everything.

[tamannaguleria]

I would really like to appreciate your content because it helped me alot for my psychology exam

[grapeshott]

plz also show some of the criticisms of these experiments also, in the same video. Then we could have a better understanding.

[justgivemethetruth]

Every human being ought to be informed of this characteristic we all have to some extent or another. It's brilliant.

[guzaloymakhmudova]

I would suggest Sprouts to think of opening a platform to teach lessons on psychology with longer videos.
Your videos are all amazing!

[shannonbest]

Dr. Suess wrote a book on this ‘The Sneetches with stars on thars….”

[theeraphatsunthornwit]

This rarely affect me, both offline and online. I am proud when I stand alone several times.

[yutubl]

Thanks for this interesting and really astonishing results!

[aresmars]

Good summary. Autistic spectrum leaning, and already careful about my perceptions, while I'm sure I'd not conform at any age, it would make me question my conclusions, which is actually sensible. I'd lower my "odds of being right" if I saw others disagreed. I'd try to account to myself why I perceived differently, and until I had a reason, I'd hold this in tension - my perceptions and a strange confused majority that needs explaining. I think it would not occur to me initially that people could be lying, but I'd hold that as my last explanation given no other ones that make sense.

[vurvxfl]

I always stick by my own mind but then I am a loner. Part of the reason I am a loner though is because I won't swallow bullshit.

[Armz]

People who place their self values on the hands of others or some group identity will succumb to this. They will even condone harassment and abuse if it means they got to be part of such a group. I've seen it over and over again. 🌝