In 1935, Muzafer Sherif used the autokinetic effect, an optical illusion in which a stationary point of light in an otherwise dark room appears to move, to study how group norms form. The experiments predate his later Robbers Cave study and established his interest in how a shared social reality can be built from an ambiguous perceptual situation.
Facts
Key FindingParticipants judging how far the stationary light appeared to move converged on a shared group estimate after hearing other participants' judgments, and continued reporting that group norm even later when tested alone, showing that an ambiguous perceptual judgment is strongly shaped by social influence. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Same researcher; the autokinetic-effect studies established Sherif's interest in group-norm formation that Robbers Cave later extended to intergroup conflict.
Conducted By
In Branch
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Autokinetic Effect
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
if an observer who would otherwise say the light is moving one foot overhears another observer say the light is moving one yard, then the first observer will report that the light moved one yard.
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