So, if you are an emperor wanting honest advice on your wardrobe, then Asch’s results suggest that ‘planting’ one or more dissenters would be a good way to get it.
It’s useful until the jester gains a reputation as someone whose views shouldn’t be taken seriously, at which point the jester’s dissent may begin to have the opposite effect.
So, if you are an emperor wanting honest advice on your wardrobe, then Asch’s results suggest that ‘planting’ one or more dissenters would be a good way to get it.
That is very clever!
It’s probably one of the many useful functions of the court jester :)
It’s useful until the jester gains a reputation as someone whose views shouldn’t be taken seriously, at which point the jester’s dissent may begin to have the opposite effect.