The Impact of Upbringing on Individual Choices: Lessons from Asch and Milgram Experiments

Have you ever wondered why we make the choices we do? Turns out, the place we grew up has a lot to do with it. Two famous experiments, the Asch conformity experiment and the Milgram obedience experiment, showed us just how much social influence and authority can affect our decision-making process.


Let's start with the Asch conformity experiment. Participants were shown a line and asked to match it with one of three comparison lines. But here's the catch - most of the group intentionally provided incorrect answers. Shockingly, a significant number of participants went along with the incorrect majority answer, even when it contradicted their own perception. This experiment demonstrated the influence of peer pressure and the tendency to conform to societal norms, irrespective of personal judgment.


What does this mean for us? Well, if you grew up in an environment where fitting in was super important, you might feel like you have to go along with what society expects, even if it goes against what you personally believe. On the other hand, people who grew up learning to think for themselves and question everything might be more likely to stick to their own judgment, even when there's pressure to conform.



Now, let's move on to the Milgram obedience experiment. Participants were asked to administer electric shocks to another person (a confederate) whenever they answered questions incorrectly. Shockingly, a significant majority of participants continued to administer increasingly higher shocks simply because an authoritative figure commanded them to do so. This experiment highlighted the power of authority and obedience in influencing individual choices.

                      

What does this mean for us? People who were raised in environments where obedience and respect for authority were heavily emphasized might be more likely to just blindly follow instructions without questioning their morality or consequences. On the other hand, folks who were brought up in environments that encouraged questioning authority and independent thinking might be less likely to just go along with everything without thinking it through.


While upbringing plays a significant role in shaping a person's values, beliefs, and attitudes, it is essential to recognise that individual choices are complex outcomes of various factors. However, the education and awareness we receive as we grow up can have a huge impact on our ability to think independently and make good decisions.


So, if we want to become a society of independent thinkers who make informed choices, we need to focus on education systems that prioritize critical thinking skills and teach us to question authority constructively. It's all about cultivating a culture of curiosity and empowerment, and I think we can totally do it.




I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it informative, engaging and fun! Let me know what you think in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!