Final answer:
In the Asch line experiment, individuals conformed to incorrect answers primarily due to the social pressures to fit in with the group. The study by Solomon Asch was not about visual judgment but rather about the influences of conformity and social harmony.
Step-by-step explanation:
People in the Asch line experiment often gave incorrect answers due to the social pressure to conform to the group, despite knowing the right answer. This social psychology study showed the power of normative social influence, where individuals conform in order to be accepted by others. Solomon Asch’s experiments, conducted in the 1950s, revealed the tendency of people to prioritize social harmony over correctness.
In the experiment, participants often conformed to a unanimous but incorrect group decision concerning line lengths. This was understood as a preference to fit in, rather than a reflection of genuine belief in the incorrect answers or any visual judgment issue. Asch found that conformity was influenced by factors like the majority's size, unanimity, the presence of another dissenter, and whether the response was public or private. This indicates that social factors were the main cause for conformity rather than individual perceptions or abilities such as eyesight or confusion.
The final answer to the student's question, based on Asch's study, would be a) They want to fit in with the group. The primary reason such situations occur is the pressure to conform to group norms and the desire to maintain group cohesion.