Social Psychology: Conformity and Group Pressure

This lecture explores the concepts of conformity and group pressure, as studied by Asch in the 1950s. It delves into how individuals modify their opinions to align with group consensus, even when they know the correct answer. The presentation covers Asch's experiments on visual perception and the impact of group influence on decision-making. It also discusses Festinger's research on the need for consensus within groups. The lecture highlights the phenomenon of conformity, where individuals may conform to the majority opinion to reduce uncertainty and maintain group cohesion. Through various experiments, the instructor illustrates how social influence can lead to conformity, emphasizing the importance of understanding group dynamics and individual behavior.