Final answer:
Solomon Asch's experiments in the 1950s were designed to study conformity, showing that majority influence can significantly affect individual judgment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Solomon Asch conducted a major experiment in the 1950s to study the effect of conformity. His experiments involved a visual test where participants were asked to match the length of a line with one of three comparison lines. Only one participant was unaware that the others were associates of the experimenter, who intentionally chose the incorrect line to see if the subject would conform to the group's wrong consensus.
Asch's findings were significant, revealing that 76% of participants conformed at least once to the incorrect choice of the group. This outcome, known as the Asch effect, highlights the impact of group pressure on an individual's judgment. Asch concluded that the desire to be liked by the group or the belief that the group is more knowledgeable can drive people to conform, raising important questions about societal values and education.