Conformity Booklet 3: Resistance To Social Influence, Minority Influence And Social Change Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is locus of control?
A sense of control people have over the events in their lives
What is externality?
Indvivuals who tend to belive that their behaviour and experience is caused by events outside of their control
What is internality?
Indvivuals who tend to believe that they are responsible for their behaviour and experience rather than external forces
What is social support?
The perception that an individual has assistance available from other people, and that they are a part of a supportive network
What is commitment?
The degree to which members of a minority are dedicated to a particular cause or activity. The greater the commitment, greater the influence
What is consistency?
The minority influence is effective, provided that there is a stability in the expressed position over time and agreement among different members of the minority
What is flexibility?
A willingness to be flexible and to compromise when expressing a position
What is minority influence?
A form of social Influence where members of the majority group change their beliefs or behaviours as a result of their exposure to a persuasive minority
What is social change?
Occurs when a society or a section of society adopts a new belief or way of behaving which then becomees widely accepted as the norm
What is social norms interventions?
An attempt to correct misconceptions of the normative behavior of peers in an attempt to change the risky behaviour of a target population
Outline social support
1) standing against peer pressure or harmful authority is easier if you have an ally, as they provide the individual with an independent assessment of reality
2) breaks the unaminity of the position of the majority
3) non-conformists and disobedient models act as role models
Social support research: asch
In a variation study, where an ally who gave the right answer caused conformity to drop form 33% to 5%
Social support research: milgram
In a variation study, where the pp was one of 3 ‘teacher’ and the other 2 ‘teachers’ refused to continue, only 10% continued to 450V
Social support research: Gamson et al
Asked pps to provide evidence in a smear campaign for an oil company and found higher levels of resistance (29/33 groups) than milgram probably because pp were in groups
Locus of control research: avtgis
1) meta analysis of studies involving LOC and conformity
2) those who scored higher on External LOC were more easily persuaded and likely to conform
3) ‘internals’ more likely to resist social pressure
Locus of control research: Holland
1) repeated Milgrams study and measured LOC
2) found that 37% of ‘internals’ did not continue to 450v whereas only 23% of ‘externals’ didn’t.
3) internals showed greater resistance
Resistance to social Influence evaluation: Real world support is a strength. Explain, give examples and link.
Explain: Albrect evaluated Teen Fresh staaty USA, an 8 week programme to help pregnant adolescents (14-19) to resist peer pressure to smoke
Example: adolescents with ‘buddy’ - less likely to smoke than those with out a buddy
Link: social support can help young people resist social Influence as part of an intervention in the real world
Resistance to social Influence evaluation: social support explanation is a limitation. Explain, give examples and link.
Explain: Allen and Levine showed social support can help people to resist the influence of a group. A dissenter with good eyesight, 64% genuine pps refused to conform, when no support it was 3%
Example: SS does not always help, dissenter had obviously poor eyesight (thick glasses), resistance was only 36%
Link: SS is somewhat limited and may not always help
Resistance to social Influence evaluation: limited role of LOC is a limitation. Explain, give examples and link.
Explain: Rotter says LOC is not most importance factor in determining whether someone resists social Influence. LOC’s role depends on the situation
Example: a person’s LOC only significantly affects their behaviour in new situations
Link: if conformed or obeyed in specific situation before then there is chances that you will again regardless of high internal /external LOC
Resistance to social Influence evaluation: contradictory research is a limitation. Explain, give examples and link.
Explain: challenged link between LOC and resistance. American LOC studies data shown that people become more resistant to obedience ; more external
Example: if resistance was is limited to internal LOC, expect people to be more intermal
Link: suggest LOC is not a valid explanation of how people resist social influence
Minorities are effective when they are : consistent
It will increase interest. Either between people (synchronic) or over time (diachronic)
Minorities are effective when they are : committed
Suggests certainly, confidence and courage. Seen to be willing to Suffer (augmentation principle)
Minorities are effective when they are : flexible
Not rigid/dogmatic. Negotiate rather than enforce their position
In the key study - Moscovici. What is the procedure?
1 - 4 naive pps and 2 confederates
2- shown series of blue slides and asked to judge colour
3- in the ‘consistent’ condition the 2 confederates called the slides ‘green’ of every trial
4 - in the ‘inconsistent’ condition the 2 confederates called the slides ‘green’ 2/3s of the trials
5 - control group had 6 naive pps, no confederates
