Ann Arbor experiment

The Ann Arbor experiment was a research study conducted in the 1960s by social psychologists to understand how people conform to group opinions. Participants were asked to match the length of lines and unknowingly, a majority of confederates (actors) intentionally gave incorrect answers. The study found that individuals often went along with the group’s wrong answers, demonstrating the powerful influence of social conformity. This experiment helped psychologists understand peer pressure and social influence, revealing that people might sometimes agree with incorrect consensus to avoid standing out or conflict.