The Relation Between Group Members' Self-Confidence and Their Reactions to Group Pressures to Uniformity

THE tendency of groups to produce uniformity of opinions, beliefs, attitudes and behavior among their members has been observed for a long time. A recent attempt to analyze this phenomenon has been made by Festinger and his associates.' Approaching the problem conceptually, a system of interrelated hypotheses has been formulated in such a manner that they yield to experimental tests. A considerable amount of experimental data has been obtained by controlled laboratory studies in support of this systematic analysis of group process. One of the principal concepts assumed to underlie the observed uniformity in groups is that of social reality. This concept refers to opinions or beliefs that cannot be checked against a physical, objective referent. The only verification for an individual's opinion would be through agreement with persons whom he accepts as valid reference points on such issues. Social groups form very strong reference points on issues to which they are relevant. If a particular opinion is in agreement with the opinion of a relevant group, it appears to the person holding it as validated, and it possesses reality-that is social realityfor him in much the same sense as an opinion which he checked against a physical referent. If any differences exist in a group concerning an issue that is relevant to the group, the members' need for obtaining reality for their opinions, according to this theory, gives rise to tensions which exert themselves in pressures to re-establish uniformity. Some of