Editing Asch conformity experiments (section)

=== Social comparison theory ===
{{Main|Social comparison theory}}
The conformity demonstrated in Asch experiments may contradict aspects of social comparison theory.<ref name="Turner (1985)" /><ref name="Turner, J. C. et al. (1987)." /><ref name="Turner & Oakes (1986).">{{cite journal|last1 = Turner|first1 = John|last2=Oakes|first2=Penny|title = The significance of the social identity concept for social psychology with reference to individualism, interactionism and social influence|journal = British Journal of Social Psychology|volume = 25| issue = 3| pages = 237–252|year = 1986|doi=10.1111/j.2044-8309.1986.tb00732.x|doi-access = free}}</ref> Social comparison theory suggests that, when seeking to validate opinions and abilities, people will first turn to direct observation. If direct observation is ineffective or not available, people will then turn to comparable others for validation.<ref name="Festinger">{{cite journal | last1 = Festinger | first1 = L | year = 1954 | title = A theory of social comparison processes | journal = Human Relations | volume = 7 | issue = 2| pages = 117–140 | doi=10.1177/001872675400700202| s2cid = 18918768 }}</ref> In other words, social comparison theory predicts that social [[reality testing]] will arise when physical reality testing yields uncertainty. The Asch conformity experiments demonstrate that uncertainty can arise as an ''outcome'' of social reality testing. More broadly, this inconsistency has been used to support the position that the theoretical distinction between social reality testing and physical reality testing is untenable.<ref name="Turner, J. C. et al. (1987)." /><ref name="Turner, J. C. (1991)" /><ref name="Turner & Oakes, (1997)">{{cite journal | last1 = Turner | first1 = J. C. | last2 = Oakes | first2 = P. J. | editor1-last = McGarty | editor1-first = C. | editor2-last = Haslam | editor2-first = S. A. | year = 1997  | title = The socially structured mind | journal = The Message of Social Psychology | pages = 355–373 | location = Cambridge, MA }}</ref><ref name="Turner (2005)">{{cite journal |last1 =Turner | first1 = J. C. |title=Explaining the nature of power: A three-process theory|journal=European Journal of Social Psychology|year=2005|volume=35|pages=1–22 |doi=10.1002/ejsp.244|doi-access=free}}</ref>