Results and Evaluation
The results were shocking. Even though the task was dead easy, participants gave incorrect answers 32% of the time during critical trials. That's nearly one-third of responses being wrong despite clear evidence! While 25% never conformed at all, 75% gave at least one wrong answer to fit in with the group.
Asch concluded that people desperately want to avoid ridicule and exclusion. Some participants even started doubting their own perceptions, showing how powerful group pressure can be. Even those who gave correct answers often appeared withdrawn or embarrassed.
The study's strengths include its high control and easy replication, making it hugely influential in psychology. However, it had significant weaknesses: the sample was heavily biased (only male American students from the 1950s), and it raised serious ethical concerns through deception.
Reality Check: This experiment shows that even strangers can dramatically influence our behaviour - imagine how much stronger the pressure is with people we actually know and care about!