This article argues thm conformity in Asch-like paradigms is not the result of mere normative pressure on Ss [0 confonu [0 a group or la a majority. It is suggested [hat in such situations of influence, a socio-epistemic conflic( [akes place because the Ss are aware of the existence of a diversiry of points of view, a priori ail vaEd, regarding an abject they considered as having ooly one lI11iql/e way of being perceived. In facl, the consensus that exists out of the laboratory (the epistemic aspect of the conflict)clashes with the experimental group consensus (the social compooenr of the conflict). A series of experimems. including one previously unreported sludy (0=96), are discussed ta illustrate the following reasoning: the lower the norma(Îve pressure, the higher the likelihood that a eonfliet be solved episremieally; in whieh case, the effeet will not be the usual effecl of manifest conformity but a larem reconstruction of the abject.