Sherif's Conformity Experiments

Sherif's Conformity Experiments demonstrated how individuals' perceptions and judgments can be influenced by group consensus. Participants were asked to estimate the movement of a point of light in a dark room, which they believed was stationary or moving. When tested alone, their estimates varied widely, but when in a group, participants tended to conform to a common estimate suggested by others, even though the movement was purely an optical illusion. The experiments showed that social influence can shape private judgments, revealing the power of group norms and conformity in shaping perceptions and opinions.