Final answer:
In the Asch experiment, subjects often conformed to the group and chose the incorrect line when pressured by unanimous wrong answers from others, demonstrating the strong influence of group majority on individual judgment. The correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Asch experiment, the subject, who was unaware of the true nature of the experiment, would often conform to the group consensus and choose the incorrect line when giving a verbal answer, even when it was clearly wrong. This was not a test of visual judgment but an exploration of the pressures of conformity. Asch found that when the rest of the group unanimously chose an incorrect answer, the true subject often conformed to the group, thus demonstrating the Asch effect, or the influence of the group majority on an individual's judgment.
When the experiment was modified to allow subjects to write their answers privately, the instances of conformity dropped significantly. This showed that the public aspect of the response was a significant pressure for conformity. Moreover, factors such as group size, the presence of an ally, and whether the response was public or private played a role in how likely a person was to yield to group pressure.