Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example Solomon Asch: Group Pressure and Conformity Social psychologist Solomon Asch’s 1951 study of the impact of group pressure on decisions is noted as one of the most important and conclusive. The conduct of the study was fairly simple. Ache showed students in groups of eight to ten--all of whom except one in each group had been coached beforehand to pick the wrong answer on twelve of the eighteen cards. Each card had a group of three bar lines on the right, and one bar line. Students were asked to pick one bar from a series of three on the right that best matched the one bar on the left. Most subjects were told to deliberately give the wrong answer. Asch arranged the questioning so that most wrong answers would be given before the test subject in the group made his or her decision. The results were significant and according to Zimbardo and Gerrig (2010): â€Å"50 and 80 percent†¦conformed with the false majority estimate†¦a third†¦yielded to the majority’s wrong judgments on half or more of the critical trials† (p. 550). ... more complex psychological elements at work which according to Zimbardo and Gerrig (2010) may indicate impulses at play beyond our simple â€Å"desire â€Å"to be liked, accepted and approved† (p. 549). For instance, Asch noted that the fewer people who gave wrong answers the fewer test subjects did the same, indicating a strong mistrust element in the views of the few versus those of the majority. As might be concluded, a decided lack of independence and confidence was clear when it came to one’s rational judgment over that of the pack. Considering the often incomprehensible election habits of individuals, this becomes particularly relevant in terms of electorate behavior. The 25 percent who always conformed was roughly equal to the same percentage who never conformed (Zimbardo and Gerrig, 2010) indicating a possible polar aspect to the behavior. On the positive side, it should be noted that significant change in most aspects of life come from the minority generally c onsidered non-conformers. As Zimbardo and Gerrig (2010) found, â€Å"The conflict between entrenched majority view and the dissonant minority perspective is an essential precondition of innovation†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( p. 551). As evidenced in the recent film, â€Å"The Social Network,† Facebook creator, Marc Zuckerman’s insistence on thinking independently ultimately produced a multi-billion dollar empire. For the others who conform even in the face of obvious evidence that they should not conform, there may very well be serious psychological disorders underpinning the behavior. The major disorders according to Zimbardo and Gerrig (2010) are categorized based their affect on the individual as follows: the individual experiences personal distress or dysfunction; behaves in ways that hinder goals and wellbeing or