As an individual one has the ability to form their own unique opinions and make their own choices, but the way a person thinks or feels can easily be influenced by the surrounding environment. Being in a group setting can especially impact and triumph over one’s individual thoughts. This principle, known as group mind, is a collective set of ideas and opinions shared by a group that come together to form one mutual belief. It can become confusing to separate an individual’s opinion from the groups. A person needs to become aware of the effects of pressure within a group in order to remain objective.
Everyone belongs to a group whether it be through, “family, work groups, social, religious, and political groups” (Lessing 595). One seeks for a place to pertain to. Usually it is with people that
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In this test, however, they measuring lengths of lines. The subjects are given two cards, one with a single vertical line and the other with three. The subjects have to determine which line from the three is the same length as the single vertical line. Similar to the previous experiment, a selected few are instructed to state the wrong answer and the very last person is left to make their own choice. What Asch found was that a “considerable percentage yielded to the majority” (Asch 599). In any other setting, there is a very slight chance of someone choosing the wrong answer. This is further proof of how a group mind can effect one’s decisions. The pressure that comes from a group leads to people caving in and denouncing their own judgement. Asch concludes by bringing awareness to an issue in our society where even the “reasonably intelligent and well-meaning young people are willing to call white black” (Asch 602). After reviewing these results, most would agree that ‘independence was preferable to conformity” (Asch 602). A person should stand by their first instinct rather than complying to others