Asch's Conformity Experiment Insights

The video explores Solomon Asch's experiment on social conformity, where participants judged line lengths in a group setting. The study revealed that individuals often conform to group opinions, even against their own judgment, due to social pressure. Variations of the experiment showed that having a partner or providing private responses significantly reduced conformity. The experiment distinguishes between informational conformity, where individuals believe the group is correct, and normative conformity, where individuals conform to avoid disapproval.

What is the main focus of Solomon Asch's experiment?

• Perception of line lengths

• Memory recall

• Behavior under social forces

• Public opinion polling

What role do confederates play in Asch's experiment?

• They observe without participating

• They intentionally give wrong answers

• They provide correct answers

• They are unaware of the experiment

In the initial trials, what percentage of subjects conformed to the group's incorrect answers?

• 37%

• 25%

• 50%

• 10%

What is informational conformity?

• Conforming to avoid discomfort

• Conforming because the group convinces us they are right

• Conforming to gain approval

• Conforming due to peer pressure

Why do some subjects conform even when they know the group is wrong?

• To gain rewards

• To avoid discomfort

• To show intelligence

• To follow instructions

How does the presence of a partner affect conformity in Asch's experiment?

• It increases conformity to 50%

• It has no effect on conformity

• It reduces conformity to 5%

• It doubles the conformity rate

What is normative conformity?

• Conforming to fit in with friends

• Conforming due to lack of information

• Conforming to avoid group disapproval

• Conforming to gain knowledge

What does the partnership variation reveal about group influence?

• Group size is the most important factor

• Partners have no effect on conformity

• Unanimity is crucial for group influence

• Partners increase conformity

What is the effect of writing answers privately in Asch's experiment?

• It has no effect on conformity

• It increases conformity

• It reduces conformity significantly

• It causes confusion among subjects

What is the overall conclusion of Asch's experiment?

• People always trust their own judgment

• Group pressure can lead people to deny their own perceptions

• Conformity is only present in small groups

• Conformity is not influenced by group size