According to Asch, which reason for conformity was expressed by participants?

The choice that indicates participants thought this was what the experimenter wanted highlights a significant aspect of conformity as studied in Solomon Asch's experiments. This reflects the concept of normative influence, where individuals conform to group norms or perceived expectations in order to fit in or please others, including authority figures like the experimenter.

In Asch's studies, participants were often faced with making judgments about line lengths in a group setting where confederates intentionally provided incorrect answers. Many participants reported that they conformed to the group's consensus, believing that their own perceptions should align with what the group or experimenter seemed to endorse. This illustrates how the presence of an authority figure can lead individuals to adjust their responses based on perceived expectations or desires for social approval.

In contrast, the belief in individualism would tend to promote independent thinking rather than conformity. Peer pressure is certainly a factor in conformity, but the essence of this particular choice is more nuanced as it directly addresses the participants' motivations based on authority. Meanwhile, the idea of providing incorrect answers or actively seeking to go against the consensus does not align with the primary reasons participants conformed in Asch's experiments. Thus, highlighting the connection between participants’ responses and their perceptions of the experimenter's expectations accurately captures their rationale for