Most classic studies in social and developmental psychology were conducted at least
30 years ago. Why are there so few modern classics?
In this essay, I will be explaining why are there so few modern classics. So
what is classic? A classic is when the study has achieved a great impact on its field
and in this case Psychology, examples such as the Asch conformity experiments, the
Milgram experiment, the Stanford prison experiment, Bobo doll, and blue eyed versus
brown eyes students.
Asch's experiment (1951) examined the behaviour under social forces. The
experiment involved the perception of the length of lines. Asch exposed participants
to normative social pressure using a simple, unambiguous task with no doubt about
the correct answer. Participants were shown a pair of cards, one with a standard line
darwn on it, the other illustrating three comparison lines of different lengths.
Participants were then required to choose which of the comparison lines were the
same lengths with the standard line. In each group, there was only one participant, and
the rest were confederates, and that one participant was always late. The confederates
were asked to give the same wrong answer, and to see if the participants would
conform. Results showed that the rate of conformity was 32% and 74% of participants
conformed at least once, but he found through interviews that they went along for
different reasons. To conclude, we go along with the group because what they say
convinces us that they are right, this is call informational conformity, and sometimes
we conform because we are apprehensive that the group will disapprove if we are
deviant, this is call normative conformity. Asch's experiment is a classic, it reveals
how people will deny what they see and submit to group pressure.
The Milgram experiment (1961) is...