Question 20

Stanley Milgram conducted a classic study of conformity.

In his influential experiments, Stanley Milgram demonstrated how individuals could be persuaded to conform to incorrect group judgments, with about 74 percent of participants agreeing with confederates on the inequality of lines A and Y.

A) Philip Zimbardo

Philip Zimbardo is best known for the Stanford prison experiment, which explored the psychological effects of perceived power and authority. His work does not focus on conformity in the context of group influence on perceptual tasks, making him an incorrect choice for this question.

B) Leon Festinger

Leon Festinger is renowned for his theory of cognitive dissonance, which addresses the discomfort individuals feel when holding conflicting beliefs. Although his work contributes to understanding social psychology, it does not specifically involve a study on conformity similar to Milgram's.

C) Albert Bandura

Albert Bandura is famous for his research on social learning theory, particularly the Bobo doll experiment, which focused on observational learning and aggression. His studies do not address conformity related to group pressure in the manner described in the question.

D) Stanley Milgram

Stanley Milgram conducted a pivotal study on conformity which involved participants being influenced by a group of confederates to incorrectly judge the equality of lines. His findings highlighted the power of social influence, as a significant majority conformed to the incorrect group consensus.

Conclusion

Stanley Milgram's research is a foundational study in social psychology that specifically addresses the dynamics of conformity and group influence. In contrast, the other options focus on different psychological phenomena and do not pertain to the study of conformity in the context described. Thus, Milgram's work is definitively the correct answer to the question posed.