The power of social pressure: Solomon Asch’s conformity experiments and the Candid Camera Elevator Experiment

There are many fascinating experiments in psychology that show how strongly our behavior is shaped by social influences. Two particularly interesting studies are Solomon Asch’s conformity experiment and the famous Candid Camera Elevator Experiment. Both show in an impressive way how peer pressure can influence our behavior.

Solomon Asch and the conformity experiment

In the 1950s, Solomon Asch conducted a series of experiments to understand how strongly the pressure of a majority can influence an individual’s judgment. In his most famous experiment, Asch placed a participant in a room with several confidants (actors). The group was asked to compare lines on maps and decide which line was the same length as a reference line.

Unbeknownst to the real participant, the confidants deliberately gave incorrect answers in certain rounds. The result was astounding: around 75% of participants matched the wrong majority at least once, and overall participants gave the same wrong answer as the majority 32% of the time. This experiment showed that people are often willing to change their own judgments to avoid falling out of the group or feeling uncomfortable.

The Candid Camera Elevator Experiment

Another vivid example of social pressure is the Candid Camera Elevator Experiment, which was conducted by the TV show of the same name. In this experiment, an unsuspecting person entered an elevator where several insiders were standing. These initiates suddenly began to change their behavior, for example by all turning towards the wall at the same time.

Again, the result was clear: the unsuspecting person often quickly adapted their behavior to that of the group, even though there was no logical reason to do so. This experiment, although less scientifically rigorous than Asch’s study, also illustrated the strong tendency of people to conform to the group.

What do these experiments mean for our understanding of human behavior?

Both experiments show that the social pressure to conform is strong and influences our behavior in many situations. They illustrate that people are often willing to change their own perceptions and judgments in order to conform to the group. This has far-reaching implications for our understanding of group dynamics and social influence.

In today’s world, where social media and global connectivity are shaping our lives, understanding such mechanisms is more important than ever. Asch’s experiments and the Elevator Experiment remind us to critically question why we make certain decisions and how strongly our environment influences them.

Solomon Asch’s conformity experiments and the Candid Camera Elevator Experiment are impressive examples of how peer pressure can influence people’s behavior. They show that the desire to belong and be accepted is often stronger than one’s own convictions. These findings are of great importance not only for psychology, but also for everyday life and help us to better understand the dynamics in social groups.