Final answer:
Solomon Asch's study demonstrated that people often conform to group pressure to avoid standing out, which is option c. This tendency is due to a desire to be liked or a belief that the group knows better. Asch's work underscores the impact of social influences on individual decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychologist Solomon Asch's study is well-known in the field of social psychology for its insights into conformity. The experiments conducted by Asch showed that c. people tend to conform so as not to be perceived as different from others. This phenomenon occurs because people either want to fit in and be liked by the group or they believe the group is more knowledgeable than they are. In his experiments, Asch had participants identify which of the three given line segments matched the length of a fourth line, with the correct answer being obvious. Yet, when confederates of the experimenter gave a unanimously incorrect answer, many participants conformed to this incorrect choice, demonstrating the power of group pressure even against one's own senses.
Asch's results were concerning because they suggested that even intelligent and well-educated individuals could be swayed into agreeing with incorrect or untruthful positions under social pressure. His findings highlighted potential issues within the education system and societal values. These studies on conformity reveal how crucial it is to understand the influence of group dynamics on individual behavior, and how having just one ally in a group can significantly reduce the likelihood of conformity.