The Asch Conformity Experiments

The Asch Conformity Experiments, conducted in the 1950s by psychologist Solomon Asch, demonstrated how individuals often conform to group opinions, even when they are clearly incorrect. In these experiments, participants were asked to match the length of a line with three comparison lines. When confederates (actors) purposely gave wrong answers, many participants also conformed to the group's incorrect responses, highlighting the powerful influence of social pressure. This research illustrates the tendency for people to prioritize group consensus over individual judgment, shedding light on the dynamics of conformity in social situations.