A Minority of One: Conformity to Group Norms

Source: William Brady & Jay Van Bavel—New York University

It is obvious that we are influenced by those around us, but in the early to mid 1900's, psychologists began to study how potent social influence can be on our thoughts and behaviors. Motivated in part by attempts to explain the behaviors o...

Individuals are undoubtedly shaped by others, and researchers can examine how social influences?whether unconscious or overt?affect thoughts and behaviors.

Take for instance, a busy street intersection. Someone wanting to cross safely will wait for the correct symbol. However, when joined by a group of others?who seem to be in a hurry and ...