Social Conformity Experiment Notes

Overview

In a hidden camera experiment, a woman believes she is waiting for a free eye exam. The experiment focuses on social conformity and peer pressure in a crowded waiting room.

Key Concepts

• Social Conformity: The tendency to align beliefs and behaviors with those of a group.
• Peer Pressure: An invisible force influencing decisions and actions based on group behavior.
• Herd Behavior: Internalized behavior learned from observing group actions.

Experiment Setup

• Participants: A woman (test subject) and actors posing as fellow patients.
• Procedure:
  • The subject is led to believe she is in a waiting room for an eye exam.
  • When a beep sound is heard, the actors stand up in unison.
  • The subject eventually follows the crowd without understanding why.

Observations

• First Response: The woman initially questions the group behavior but stands up after a short time.
• Loneliness Effect: When the group disappears, she continues to conform to the previously established norm.
• Newcomer Influence: When more unsuspecting patients arrive, the original subject's behavior has influenced others to conform as well.

Expert Commentary: Jonah Berger

• Social Learning: The brain rewards us for conforming to group behavior from a young age.
• Exclusion Fear: The desire to avoid exclusion drives individuals to conform.
• Consequences of Conformity: While it aids socialization, it can also lead to the development of bad habits and perpetuation of wrongs.

Conclusion

• Conformity shapes both actions and thoughts unconsciously.
• The experiment highlights the power of social influence on individual behavior.