Conformity Experiments

Definition

Conformity experiments refer to studies conducted to understand how individuals adjust their behavior to match the social norms of a group. These experiments aim to investigate the influence of group pressure on an individual's decision-making and conformity levels.

Related terms

Asch Conformity Experiment: In this experiment, Solomon Asch showed participants a line and asked them which other line from a set of options matched it in length. The catch was that all but one participant were confederates who purposely gave incorrect answers. This study demonstrated how people often conform under group pressure.

Normative Social Influence:

Normative social influence occurs when an individual conforms to gain acceptance or avoid rejection from a group, even if they disagree with the group's beliefs or actions.

Informational Social Influence:

Informational social influence refers to situations where individuals conform because they believe others have accurate information and they want to make correct decisions themselves.