Universe 25: The Heaven for Mice that turned into Hell

In this edition, we delve into the captivating stories of two groundbreaking psychology experiments: Universe 25, the mouse utopia, and the Asch Conformity Experiment, offering profound insights into human and animal behaviour in society.

The Universe 25 Experiment: A Mouse Utopia Turns Awry

In the 1960s, a scientist named John B. Calhoun designed a grand experiment with 4 pairs of mice, one that would unravel the mysteries of society and overcrowding. It was called "Universe 25," a place where mice could live in a paradise untouched by predators, with endless food and water, and a climate-controlled environment. A utopia for mice, it seemed.

As the mouse population continued to swell, a strange transformation occurred. Despite the availability of enough resources, the mice began to exhibit various abnormal, often destructive behaviours. This included hyperaggression, failure to breed normally, infant abandonment, and, in certain cases, cannibalism. Some male mice formed gangs that attacked each other, while others withdrew completely, refusing to interact with others or breed, which Calhoun referred to as "the beautiful ones." Instead of participating in the violence and chaos, they withdrew. They no longer reproduced, grooming themselves endlessly and seeking solitude. The beautiful ones had distanced themselves from the social frenzy.

The population began to decline as violence, aggression, and withdrawal took their toll. The mouse society was collapsing, and no amount of resources or space could reverse the damage. Calhoun observed that, even when provided with all the necessities, the mice were unable to recover.

The peak population was reached around day 560 with around 2200 mice, thereafter population declined and by around day 920, the mice had died out completely.

Universe 25 was not just a mouse experiment; it offered profound insights into the behaviour of living beings, including humans, in crowded environments. It revealed the far-reaching effects of overpopulation on societal dynamics and individual mental health.

The similarities between Universe 25 and human society are striking. As cities grow more crowded, we see similar patterns emerge: heightened competition for resources, increased stress, and even individuals withdrawing from society. Calhoun's experiment serves as a stark reminder of what can occur when we disregard the consequences of overcrowding.

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The Asch Conformity Experiment, conducted by Solomon Asch in 1951, aimed to understand how people behave in groups and whether they are willing to conform to group opinion, even if it goes against what they know to be true.

In the experiment, participants were brought into a room with other people, who were actually actors working with the experimenter. The group was shown a simple line on one card and then three lines on another card, one of which was the same length as the line on the first card. Each person had to say out loud which line matched the first one.

The catch was that the actors were told to give the wrong answer on purpose. As a result, the real participant was often the last to speak. They had to decide whether to stick with what they knew was right or go along with the group's incorrect answer.

The findings were surprising. Many participants chose to conform and give the wrong answer because they didn't want to stand out or appear different from the group. They were influenced by the group's opinion.

This experiment demonstrated the power of social pressure and the human tendency to conform to the group, even when the group is clearly wrong. It also highlighted the importance of independence and critical thinking in the face of peer pressure.

The Asch Conformity Experiment has had a lasting impact on our understanding of social psychology and how people respond to group dynamics and the fear of being the odd one out.