When participants were first placed in a dark room alone and asked to estimate the apparent movement of a point of light,individuals became consistent in their own estimates,and these estimates differed greatly from participant to participant.When participants made the same estimates in a group setting,their estimates converged.According to Muzafer Sherif (1936),why did this happen?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the scenario is known as informational social influence, where individuals use other people's behaviors as cues for how to respond in an ambiguous situation. This leads to convergence of estimates in a group setting, as individuals use others' responses as a source of information to guide their own judgments.

When Participants Were First Placed in a Dark Room Alone