Final answer:
The Asch study is a famous experiment conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s to investigate conformity. Participants conformed primarily due to normative social influence, wanting to fit in and avoid social disapproval. Factors such as group size and the presence of a dissenting voice can influence conformity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Asch study is a famous experiment conducted by psychologist Solomon Asch in the 1950s to investigate conformity. In this study, participants were shown a series of line segments and asked to identify which one was the same length as a reference line. The twist was that all but one participant in the group were confederates instructed to give incorrect answers. The study found that around 76% of participants conformed to the incorrect answers provided by the group at least once.
This study is a classic example of normative social influence. Participants conformed primarily because they wanted to fit in and avoid social disapproval or ridicule. The task itself was unambiguous, so there was no need to rely on the group for information. Instead, participants felt pressured to comply with the group in order to maintain social harmony.
Factors that can increase or decrease conformity to group pressure include the size of the majority, the presence of a dissenting voice, and the public or private nature of responses.