course material

1. 1.In Asch’s experiment he examines conformity by taking note of
1.In Asch’s experiment he examines conformity by taking note of the number of times the
real participant conformed to the majority of the group. The subject in the experiment
began to “second guess” himself when he knew the right answer, but the majority of the
group picked the wrong answer. It didn’t make sense to him. He stated at one point that
there were four of them and one of him so they had to be right. Right? Some of the
circumstances that contribute to conformity is the status of the participants, the situation in
which the individual was responding, social support, and the unanimity of the group. A lot
of people conform because there is a distortion of their own judgment, as I said before the
participant in the study knew the right answer, but chose the wrong one because their were
“four of them and one” of him. People like to avoid “making waves” or being embarrassed
for not fitting in. Or as in normative conformity, they don’t want to be disapproved of
because of their deviance, as referenced in the video. I personally don’t feel the need to
conform now, I’ve learned to be my own person and stand for what I believe in. As a child, I
conformed to things quite often due to peer pressure and wanting to fit in. Sometimes I was
even forced to conform.
Feldman, R. S. (2020). Essentials of understanding psychology. (14th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
HeroicImaginationTV. (2012, February 20). Asch Conformity Experiment. YouTube.
Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyDDyT1lDhA
2.
How is the principle of conformity examined? It is "conformity examined" by a group of
individuals who participated in the study, like a critical trial. He stated that "I want to give
you a test of your visual acuity, your sensitivity to differences in line lengths, so I am going
to show you three comparison lines lengths" It was about social pressure.
When and why do you think the subject in the experiment began to "second guess" himself?
He allowed his pier's thoughts/ answers to overcome his. He did not go with his original
thought; hearing others repeat the same answer, he must have thought it was the right

2. response. So when did this happen? The third trial is when it started it begun with hearing
"two, two, two" repeatedly, and when it became the subject in question's turn to give his
answer, he paused and second-guessed the answer he wanted to give.
"something happens two, two, two, two, to the subject denies the evidence of his own eyes
and yields to the group."
Why do you think some participants would be more likely to conform than others? I believe
that Ash's study proves that people as easily influenced by what others may do. If you have
a group of 6 individuals and you ask them all the same question about life, at least two them
six are going to repeat what the other person said. This study made me think about how the
environment we are placed in can take over an individual mindset. We react off on what we
see and or are taught.
There are many reasons why people conform. Were you ever in a situation where you had
to conform? Why did you feel the need to conform? I have never been placed in this
situation ever. I have always had a brain of my own; I never along another person's
thoughts or feelings take affect me or cloud my judgment in any way. I am very outspoken.
What are some of the circumstances in the experiment which contribute to "conformity"?
It's all about social influences. When others in a group are of a higher social status, others
who are not may lean more to there response thinking they are more "knowledgeable" than
themselves.
Why do you think some participants would be more likely to conform than others? Idk. It's
just something that happens. I guess others are not as strong-minded as others are.