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Asch Experiment

Definition

The Asch Experiment is a psychological study conducted by Solomon Asch that demonstrated the power of conformity in groups. It showed how people often conform to group norms even when they believe the group may be wrong.

Analogy

Imagine you're in a classroom where everyone insists that 2+2 equals 5. Even though you know it's incorrect, you might start doubting yourself or even agree with them just to fit in. That's what happened in the Asch experiment - people conformed to an obviously incorrect answer because the majority was saying it.

Related terms

Conformity: This refers to adjusting one's behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Groupthink: This is a phenomenon where desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in an irrational decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas.

Normative Social Influence: This is a type of social influence leading to conformity. It is defined as the influence of other people that leads us to conform in order to be liked and accepted by them.