PSYC 1160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Solomon Asch, Adolf Eichmann, Nuremberg Trials

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1160
• Professor: Ken Cramer

Document Summary

Triplett"s 1898 study on cycling was the first study of social psychology. Ambiguous situations of conformity: you"re caught in a mob where you conform by smashing windows and stealing stereos. Solomon asch (1950) showed that people do not always conform. Matching a line to another line in a case that is not ambiguous. Over time, confederates conform less and less until only 37% conform. Strength of conformity depended on the cohesion of the group members and the numbers of confederates. Compliance: acquiescence to a direct request is optional. Adolf eichmann (henchman of hitler): compliance to an order is assumed. Claims he was just following orders during nuremburg trials. Jim jones: establishes his own town with followers who are harmed if they fail to comply. When a congressman arises to stop jones, he declares that his followers must commit revolutionary suicide by drinking cyanide laced kool-aid.