Autokinetikus

Autokinetikus, or the autokinetic effect, is a perceptual illusion in which a stationary point of light viewed in a completely dark environment appears to move. The effect arises from the absence of a stable external reference, making small eye movements, physiological noise, and retinal processing seem to produce motion where none exists. The phenomenon is commonly demonstrated with a single pinpoint of light projected onto a wall in a dark room.

The most well-known studies were conducted by Muzafer Sherif in the 1930s as demonstrations of social influence. In solitary trials, participants' judgments about the light’s movement varied considerably from person to person. When placed in groups, their estimates gradually converged to a common value, and the resulting group norm persisted when individuals were later tested alone. These findings are cited as evidence of normative and informational influence: people adopt a shared belief in ambiguous situations to reduce uncertainty and align with others.

Interpretation of the autokinetic effect emphasizes the interaction between perception and social context. The illusion reveals how perceptual judgments can be shaped by a lack of objective reference and by the presence of others who provide a social frame of reference. Subsequent research has explored factors that influence the strength of conformity in this task, including ambiguity, task difficulty, and the availability of alternative reference points. Some studies have also examined methodological considerations and boundary conditions for the robustness of the effect.

In psychological literature, the autokinetic effect remains a classic demonstration of perceptual illusion intersecting with social influence. In Hungarian, the phenomenon is referred to as autokinetikus hatás.