POSC 100 Asch Reading

Opinions and Social Pressure

• Examines the influence of social conformity on individual opinions and behaviors.

• Highlights the historical context of studying social influence, referencing early work in hypnosis and suggestibility by figures like Charcot, Bernheim, and Liébeault.

• Encompasses the significance social groups have on personal judgments and beliefs.

Social Influence and Hypnosis

• Charcot believed hypnosis was limited to hysterical patients; challenged by Bernheim and Liébeault's findings.

• Suggestibility refers to the ability to accept outside influence, sometimes leading to involuntary changes in perception and behavior.

• Social phenomena can be explained through this lens, illustrating the profound effects of groups on individual decisions.

Early Social Psychology Experiments

• Initial social psychology experiments were adaptations of suggestibility demonstrations.

• Subjects, often college students, would state opinions and later be influenced by majority or authority figures.

• Result: many shifted opinions to align with the perceived majority.

Mechanics of Group Pressure (Page 2)

• Participants initially agree but dissent occurs when one individual disagrees with the group.

• The discomfort of dissent leads to hesitance, anxiety, or embarrassment in individuals who oppose the majority.

Statistical Results of Group Influence (Page 3)

• A study of 123 subjects showed a 36.8% conformity rate under group pressure.

• Individual responses varied: 25% remained independent, while others frequently sided with the majority.

Factors Influencing Individual Responses (Page 4)

• Independent individuals displayed confidence or a sense of obligation to report their true judgment.

• Yielding individuals often felt pressured to conform, either to avoid conflict or believed they were wrong.

• Beginners may feel their difference signals a personal deficiency, prompting alignment with the majority.

Impact of Majority Size and Unanimity (Page 5)

• Early support from a dissenting individual significantly reduces conformity; diminishing the majority's influence.

• The extremity of dissent influences dependency on the majority: moderate dissenters ease conformity, while extreme dissenters free subjects from yielding.

Subject Variability and Group Dynamics (Page 6)

• Reactions to changes in partner dynamics analyzed, noting how feeling of support can affect independence.

• An experiment revealed that partners leaving increased error rates among subjects, showcasing the psychological impact of partnership.

Conclusions and Future Questions

• While studies revealed the strength of conformity, they also highlighted the resilience of independence among individuals.

• Encourages future research into consistency of behavior in differing situations, links to personality traits, and implications for social dynamics in societies.