The inherent need to be a part of the community is often seen in modern society as a negative phenomenon, yet, in essence, it is a neutral force that may incite one to take a specific action. The latter, in turn, may be positive or negative, yet the very concept of conformity cannot be seen as the representation of either, being a neutral phenomenon in itself. In his series of experiments in 1959, Solomon Asch proved that social conformity is affected by the factors such as the size of the group in which one experiences social pressure, the difference in the age and social status between the participants, and the use of stimuli for encouraging conformity.
The experiments conducted by Ashe were designed in a way that allowed exposing the participants to a series of stimuli and a range of factors that could potentially impact the probability of their misjudgments. When being placed under the peer pressure of a group composed of respectful individuals, some of them being older than the participants, the latter showed the tendency to agree (Fujita & Mori, 2017; Lazzaro et al., 2019). Similarly, the creation of a mixed-gender and mixed-class setting affected the results, thus helping Ashe to isolate the factors that led to the increase in conformity.
According to the results of Solomon Ashe’s experiments, the factors such as the difference in age and culture of the participants, as well as their gender, the status of the group as it is perceived by an individual, and the application of case-specific stimuli define the levels of compliance. The researcher has managed to prove his statements with the help of a masterfully designed setting and balanced use of appropriate factors to evaluate the impact of each. The outcomes of Ashe’s experiment still have a profound influence on the global community and individuals’ compliance with global trends.
References
Fujita, Y., & Mori, K. (2017). Group versus Individual Reward in the Asch Experiment without Confederates. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 5(5), 396-402. Web.
Lazzaro, S. C., Weidinger, L., Cooper, R. A., Baron-Cohen, S., Moutsiana, C., & Sharot, T. (2019). Social Conformity in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(3), 1304-1315. Web.