John F. Kennedy said, "Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."
Welcome to The Soul Podcast. I’m Stacey Wheeler. In 1951, Solomon Asch, a respected Columbia-educated psychologist, conducted an experiment that required deceiving volunteers. Groups of participants sat at a table, shown two cards: one with a single line, another with three lines labeled A, B, and C. The task was simple: match the length of the single line to one of the three. But there was a catch—only one person at the table was the real test subject. The rest were actors.

The test subject, placed last in the group, watched as the actors confidently chose the wrong line—say, B instead of the obvious A. The same cards were used repeatedly. Shockingly, over a third of test subjects conformed to the group’s wrong answer every time, and about 75% conformed at least once, despite knowing it was wrong. This is groupthink.

You might think you’d resist, but would you? The groups were small—7 to 9 people—and no one mocked or pressured the test subject. The actors just answered confidently: “It’s B.” Yet, many test subjects doubted their own eyes, swayed by the group’s certainty. Only about a quarter consistently trusted their judgment. Confidence matters. When a group of confident people agrees on a wrong answer, a third of us follow every time. Truth takes a nap.

What would you do? Would you conform once, maybe twice, before breaking free? That’s actually healthy. Going along initially might show humility—an openness to consider you might be wrong. “Maybe they see something I don’t,” you think. If you switch back after realizing the group’s wrong, that’s critical thinking, not caving. Some of Asch’s subjects did this: they conformed briefly, then trusted their eyes over the group.

Groupthink is sneaky. It’s at work, school, on TV, and social media. It can form around ideologies—politics, religion, even conspiracy theories—or simpler things like favorite beers or sports teams. The key to resisting? Awareness. When you feel the tug to conform, pause. Ask why you’re doubting yourself. Test your doubts against what you know.

Let’s look at those who conformed briefly but broke free. That initial conformity might reflect an open mind, not weakness. You’re giving the group the benefit of the doubt. But sticking with the group despite red flags—that’s the trap. The larger the group, the harder it is to resist. Extreme cases lead to mob mentality, where people act against their values, like looting or rioting.

How do you spot groupthink? Look for these signs: 

1. Blind Agreement: Nodding along without questioning, even when the idea seems flawed. 
2. Silencing Doubts: Hesitating to voice concerns to avoid rocking the boat. 
3. Conformity Pressure: Feeling anxious when someone challenges the group, urging them to “just go along.” 
4. Echoing Opinions: Repeating the group’s ideas verbatim, without critical thought. 
5. Dismissal of Outsiders: Rejecting outside opinions as irrelevant without consideration. 
6. Self-Censorship: Holding back doubts due to fear of rejection. 
7. Illusion of Invulnerability: Acting as if the group can’t be wrong, tied to ego. 
8. Rationalizing Flaws: Defending the group’s weak reasoning with excuses. 
9. Avoiding Conflict: Prioritizing harmony over truth. 
10. Stereotyping Dissenters: Labeling dissenters as disloyal or uninformed instead of engaging their arguments.

These signs can be subtle but grow in tight-knit or high-pressure settings. Notice them in others—or yourself? Spotting groupthink in yourself is tough. Red flags include agreeing to avoid conflict, ignoring your gut, or stopping questions because the group seems settled. Information bubbles—workplaces, friend groups, social media—reinforce this, feeding us sameness and narrowing our view.

Break free by seeking diverse perspectives. Listen to a podcast that challenges you or talk to someone with different views. Don’t aim to flip your beliefs—just let the friction sharpen your thinking. Politics is a prime example. We entrench in “us vs. them,” baffled that smart loved ones think differently. Instead of judging, get curious. Ask: Why do they believe that? Listen, don’t argue. You’re not agreeing—you’re learning. Curiosity exposes assumptions and builds mental flexibility.

Other ways to resist groupthink: Mix up who you talk to—people from different backgrounds or that quirky friend with a unique take. Dig into primary sources, bypassing filtered headlines. Or sit with a question longer than feels comfortable. Let your reasoning simmer. Try playing devil’s advocate with yourself—argue the opposite of your belief to test its strength. It’s uncomfortable, like a mental workout, but it builds resilience.

Returning to Kennedy’s words:
"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."
Challenging assumptions is how we grow. It’s tough, and many choose comfort over truth. Friedrich Nietzsche said,
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe."
Recognize when you’re falling into groupthink. Do you have the courage to break out? Steve Jobs warned,
"Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice."
Trust that voice. It’s your path to authenticity—for yourself and the world.