What effect did increasing the size of the majority group have on conformity, as found by Asch?

Increasing the size of the majority group had a significant impact on conformity, and Asch's studies revealed that conformity increased with the size of the majority up to a certain point. Specifically, Asch found that when the size of the majority comprised three to four individuals, conformity rates were notably high. However, beyond a certain group size (around five or six), the influence of additional majority members diminished, and further increases did not lead to a proportional rise in conformity levels. This finding illustrates that while the majority size can enhance pressure to conform, there is a threshold beyond which additional members do not further increase conformity, as the perceived social influence plateaus.

This phenomenon emphasizes the complex nature of social influence and how psychological factors, such as the perceived unanimity of a group, play a role in an individual’s decision-making process.