Thread by @JonathanShedler

1/ Social psychologists long ago proved something utterly terrifying

People will disregard WHAT THEY SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES to conform to what other people say

In a classic 1951 experiment by Solomon Asch, people looked at a picture of three lines & were asked to choose which

2/ one was same length as a “target” line, which was right in front of them

The correct choice was OBVIOUS

But person after person gave the wrong answer, out loud, when others picked the wrong line

WHEN THE TRUTH WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR FACES

3/ Watch the video and see for yourself

This happened even when the truth was visibly obvious

If person after person will say something that is blatantly false to conform with total strangers, imagine what can happens when the truth is more ambiguous or complex, as with social,

4/ cultural, or political issues

And imagine if it’s not just random strangers in a psychology experiment, but people whose acceptance you really want

But we don't have to imagine, because it's happening all around us

Otherwise sane people are saying things right

5/ out loud that are batshit crazy

Given the social pressure to conform, people will literally say the truth is a lie and a lie is the truth, right is wrong and wrong is right, up is down and down is up

And huge numbers of people will just jump right on that bandwagon

6/ But here’s where it gets interesting

In the famous line experiment, people who gave the wrong answer fell into three groups

1️⃣Those who saw the truth and knowingly said something they didn’t believe, just to go along
2️⃣Those who saw the truth but thought the others must be

7/ right and they must be mistaken
3️⃣Those who, after hearing others say the wrong thing, COULD NO LONGER SEE what was in front of them, and literally saw the the longer line as short & the shorter line as long

Their actual ability to perceive reality had been compromised

8/ And of course there’s one more group, although it was not an option in this particular experiment

There are those who see reality correctly but REMAIN SILENT when people around them start saying things that are batshit crazy

Which group are YOU in?

9/ If you found this thread valuable and want more insights on psychology, psychotherapy, and mental health:

✅ RT the first tweet of the thread & share the ❤️
✅ Follow me @JonathanShedler

Thanks for reading

https://x.com/JonathanShedler/status/1817660156613710159