SLT: Resistance to Social Influence

Question 1

How does social support help resisting conformity?

Answer 1

The fact that another person is not following the majority enables a person to feel free to follow their own conscience. Their dissent gives rise to more dissent because it shows the majority is no longer unanimous

Question 2

How does social support help resisting obedience?

Answer 2

Pressure to obey can be resisted when another person is seen to disobey. The other persons disobedient acts as a ‘model’ of dissent for the participant to copy and this frees him to act from his own conscience - This disobedient model challenges the legitimacy of the authority figure making it easier for others to disobey.

Question 3

What is locus of control?

Answer 3

The way an individual believes life works

Question 4

People with a high internal locus of control…

Answer 4

Are more likely to resist pressures to conform and obey.

• Decisions are made on personal beliefs and are more resistant to pressures of others

Question 5

Why are people with high locus of control more likely to resist?

Answer 5

• They are more self-confident and are more achievement orientated, have higher intelligence and less need for social approval

Question 6

Shute (1975) research into LOC and resisting conformity

Answer 6

• Students exposed to tohers who expressed a pro drug attitude. They were then asked about their own attitudes towards drugs.
• Those with internal LOC conformed less to expressing pro drug attitudes
• They were less influenced, showing they are more independent than an external LOC

Question 7

Jones and Kavanagh (1996) research into LOC and resisting obedience

Answer 7

Found that individuals with low external locus of control were more able to resist obeying immoral authority figures.

• Suggests an explanation for corporate fraud, where lower-status workers with high external locus of control are more susceptible to obeying orders to perform illegal actions.