The Power of the Crowd

in psychology •  6 years ago 

We are programmed to behave according to the rules of our closer or wider community. Even without noticing it, we are following behaviour patterns that are deeply rooted in the norms and values of our social reference groups. This is called social conformity.



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Source of the C00 free image

What happens if a new person arrives at a group? How quickly do we learn what is expected of​ us? How soon do we start to conform? I have just seen an interesting experiment done by National Geographic. They sounded a beep in a crowded waiting room and the rule was to stand up after the sound. When a new "patient" arrived, it took only three trials before she started to obey the rules (without even knowing WHY the others were doing it).


Watch this funny video about the experiment:

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