Social Influence: Crash Course Psychology #38

Why do people sometimes do bad things just because someone else told them to? And what does the term Groupthink mean? In today's episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about the ideas of Social Influence and how it can affect our decisions to act or to not act.

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Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
Milgram's Obedience Experiment 0:31
Social Influence & Conformity 3:22
Asch's Conformity Experiment 4:08
Cultural Expectations & Normative Social Influence 5:21
Social Facilitation 5:59
Social Loafing 6:19
Deindividuation & Group Polarization 6:51
Groupthink 7:58
Review & Credits 9:06

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[starsplash]

Actually, the arguably most important part of the Milgram experiment is the part that is very consistently left out, which explained how the four different prods affected the subjects. When given the prod, "please continue, " many of the subjects did indeed continue, but it wasn't as effective as "the experiment requires that you continue." This is because the subjects most often pushed themselves to continue when they believed that continuing the experiment would benefit the greater good. The last prod, however, "you have no choice but to continue, " was the closest the experimenters got to a direct order, and the closest the subject group got to not complying at all. So, it can be argued that the Milgram experiment actually shows that people are more willing to do things when they believe that it is what is right, NOT when they are being ordered to do so.

[Ghadier.]

It took my teacher a month to cover what you said in 13 mins.👍🏽👍🏽

[warriorfire]

Reminds me of when I was around 8 years of age. A group of us played together during recess but one day the group decided to bully another kid who was pretty much isolated. The time is was what the group was doing it so I didn't think anything of it, it was "normal". It wasn't until I got home and started watching my daily episode of power rangers, my super heroes fighting for good. I started thinking to myself realized what I had done was wrong and felt guilty. Thankfully my story ends with me apologizing to the kid and inviting him to play with us and he was never bullied again. Still friends to this day.

[dantesdiscoinfernolol]

The funniest thing I got out of watching clips of the Milgram Experiment was an interview with one of the refusers.

Refuser: "In my mind, I was hurting that gentleman, so I wasn't going to go any further."

Psychologist: "But is there anything Mr Williams [the researcher] could have said [to make you continue]?"

Refuser: *Leans back in his chair* "To hell with Mr Williams." *Lights a cigarette LIKE A BOSS*

[BloodyBlackHearts]

when you don't want to read the chapter but you want to pass the test

[ICanthinkofname]

"Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.”
― Primo Levi

[DrunkenHotei]

This whole comment section consists of "Oh, so *this* is why everyone does X!"
Gotta love psychology. You can walk right out of class and start diagnosing your friends.

[gabriellaang]

I'm taking a psychology class at university and I had a class about this yesterday. Watching it like this, with Hank explaining makes it so much better (and easier to remember). I just love crash course so much. 

[brodman]

In my first 3 months at uni studying psychology, we covered what was in this 10minute video. GOOD WORK SCISHOW, POO UNI

[KunamaElgar]

I am so glad I watched this video - it explained to me why all the students in my drama production are all putting so little effort into being expressive. I knew that their desire to be accepted by their peers was part of it, but the idea of social loafing and little individual accountability had not occurred to me. It made me realise that I haven't given them any indication of how they are going to be assessed individually, so at the moment they all think that it's ok to not stand out because the whole group is acting a particular way. I still have some more thinking to do about how to change this situation but it was a big help. Thanks Hank and Crash Course contributors!

[oliveoil]

ive noticed this in my own life because i tend to act differently depending on who im with. If im with someone who tends to be outgoing and more explicit, i am quieter than normal to give them some room. But if im with a group who is timid and reserved, i become more confident and im more exciting. I really only have one friend where i feel completely comfortable.

[starlett]

We studied 7 different studies in psychology (outline, ethics, strengths, weaknesses, sample, reason, related approaches/psychologists) in our first 3 months and now my brain is like blaarrrugghhh so these videos are absolute lifesavers and are helping me keep it together. Thank you crashcourse !

[shannonbaxter]

This is the most recent crash course ive watched in a while and ive gotta say i really appreciate the different colored words in the definitions, and short notes popping up while he's talking. they really help to remember the most important parts and let the information sink in. so much better than having to shorten the info myself in my head.

[MegaThorz]

wow man, it's like 1 month of my school's sociology class in 10 minutes. thank you CrashCourse, your works are amazing!

[Martyr]

I remember talking about the Milgram experiment in my class. The Professor asked how many of us, if we were giving the shock, would administer the lethal shock. I was the only one in my class of 80 that raised my hand and answered honestly. I felt so alone :3

[Krystalcove]

Also, one thing that's really important to know is that simply being aware of these effects, that one is prone to give a wrong answer if others give a wrong answer or the tendency to listen to authority over your conscious, is the best way of keeping yourself from being influenced by them.

[ashnvy]

This is not even my subject anymore, but I am here. The way Hank teaches makes me feel good about education after being tortured by trash professors. Just failed my pol exam despite getting a pretty good grade last semester. My professor doesn't let everyone speak in the class and has a favourite favoured group, is like a misogynist. Thanks, Hanks for motivating me again!

[jamlaini]

This video would have really helped me revise milgram back in the day when i was doing a level psychology. This is why I love crash course it helps those currently studying, helps people learn new things even if they are not in school and helps people to remember things they have learnt but have since forgotten.

[SeanNufer]

I know I'm late to this conversation, but I love the utilization of the WAT grandma meme throughout.

[DwyaneWadeCounty]

I remembered in Xmen First Class that stuck with me since was when Magneto was punishing the soldiers, and Xavier told him that they were "just men following orders". And then Magneto said, "I have been under the mercy of men just following orders my entire life. Never again". Powerful scene.