Asch’s Conformity Experiment on Groupthink

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Understanding Asch's Conformity Experiment

1. Introduction to the Experiment:

   • Watch the video titled "Asch’s Conformity Experiment on Groupthink" from the channel Sprouts to get a detailed understanding of the experiment conducted by Solomon Asch.

2. The Story Behind the Experiment:

   • The video narrates a story about a boy who observed a glass of wine seemingly being consumed mysteriously. This story leads to the boy becoming a pioneer in social psychology and conducting an experiment to understand peer pressure and conformity.

3. Experiment Setup:

   • Asch's experiment involved a group of students, with some being actors (confederates) who were aware of the experiment's purpose, and one innocent student (the subject) who was unaware.
   • The students were shown two cards: one with a single line and the other with three lines of different lengths.

4. Procedure:

   • Each student had to state aloud which line on the second card matched the length of the line on the first card.
   • The confederates would purposely give the wrong answer in the later rounds of the experiment, influencing the innocent student to conform to the majority or stick to the truth.

5. Results:

   • After 18 rounds with 123 subjects, the experiment concluded that 23% of students always gave the correct answer, 72% conformed to the majority at least once, and 5% always succumbed to peer pressure.
   • Asch's work highlighted that having just one person giving the correct answer significantly reduced the impact of peer pressure.

6. Implications:

   • The experiment demonstrated how peer pressure can influence individuals to conform, even when they know the answer is incorrect.
   • Asch's findings indicated that the opinions of three peers are adequate to sway an individual's judgment.

7. Discussion:

   • Reflect on whether you would have conformed or stuck to the truth in a similar situation.
   • Consider how the Asch effect might manifest in your daily life or on social media platforms.

8. Educational Insights:

   • Think about how educators can empower young people to resist conformity and speak the truth in various settings.
   • Share your thoughts and insights in the comments section of the video to engage in further discussions.

9. Further Exploration:

   • Visit the Sprouts website or refer to the video description for additional resources, such as downloading the video without ads or background music.
   • Support the mission of changing education by exploring ways to implement these insights in classrooms, online courses, or projects.

10. Engagement:

• Encourage teachers worldwide to utilize the learnings from Asch's experiment to promote critical thinking and individuality among students.
• Share the video and its educational value with others to spread awareness about the impact of conformity and peer pressure in society.