Sherif's autokinetic effect study refers to a classic experiment conducted by psychologist Muzafer Sherif in which participants were asked to estimate the movement of a stationary point of light in a dark room. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate how people rely on social influence and group norms when making judgments about ambiguous situations.
Related terms
Group conformity: Group conformity refers to changing one's behavior or beliefs in order to fit in with the group or meet social expectations.
Social influence: Social influence is the process through which individuals' thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are affected by others.
Normative social influence: Normative social influence occurs when individuals conform to gain approval from others or avoid rejection.
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