Explanations of resistance to social influence

Question 1

Define resisting social influence?

Answer 1

• Ability to withstand social pressures to conform/obey
• This is influenced by situational & dispositional factors
• Presence of other who also resist helps others to do the same

Question 2

% of Asch’s Pt’s who resisted SI on every trial?
% of Milgram’s Pt’s who showed some resistance to social influence?

Answer 2

• 25%
• 35%

Question 3

Outline the situational & dispositional factors in RSI?

Answer 3

• Situational factors: Social support (ally)
• Dispositional factors: Internal Locus of control (ILoc)

Question 4

Outline social support from a non-conformist as RSI?

Give a research example?

Answer 4

• Minority is given an ally who disagrees with majority
• Minority will be more likely to RSI because they are more confident in sharing their views
• Minority will experience less social anxiety
• Asch: when Unanimity broken & Pt’s were given SS from a confederate, conformity dropped to 5.5%

Question 5

Outline social support from a disobedient person as RSI?

Give a research example?

Answer 5

• People will be more confident in disobeying when they are not alone
• They experience less moral strain by disobeying authority figures
• Milgram’s variation, disobedient stooge: Real Pt had 2 teachers alongside (confederates)
• Confederate teacher refused to give shocks over 150 volts & second teacher refused at 210 volts
• Only 15% Pt’s (6) continued to 450 volts in this variation

Question 6

AO3 Social Support, situational
Research support?
Rees & Wallace (2015)

Answer 6

P - Strength is research support
E - Rees & Wallace (2015) found social support from friends helped tees resist conformity pressures from majority
E - Enables group to follow their own conscience
- Friend act as a model of autonomous behaviour, resulting in Pt not feeling alone
L - Implies their dissent gives rise to more dissent as it shows majority is no longer unanimous

Question 7

AO3 Social Support, situational
Alternative explanation?

Answer 7

P - Social support for RSI is incomplete due to alternative explanations
E - Some people with different personality characteristics (ILoc) are more likely to RSI vs those with Social support
E - Limits social support explanation as not all RSI with social support
L - So (ILoc) can explain this as it may be down to dispositional characteristics

Question 8

AO3 Social Support, situational
Practical applications?

Answer 8

P - There are practical applications of social support
E - By knowing about research such as Milgram, people will be able to avoid situations that could cause negative social influences, by finding themselves a fellow dissenter
E - e.g. Those that share similar beliefs about common goals, will likely ally themselves in a conformity situation
L - So explanation useful to society because it can explain aspects of social behaviour in everyday situations

Question 9

AO3 Social support, situational
Theoretical problems?

Answer 9

P - Social support explanation can be seen as having theoretical problems
E - Despite studies showing social support can affect levels of RSI, people still conform/obey, means explanation overlooks individual differences
E - e.g. 15% still obeyed in Milgram where 2 other Pt’s refused to obey
L - Suggests the explanation cannot be used solely as an explanation for RSI as there will always be those that obey

Question 10

Outline Internal Locus of control (ILoc)?

Answer 10

• Extent to which we believe we have control over our own actions, measured by a questionnaire
• ILoc has been linked to independent behaviour

Question 11

How does ILoc relate to RSI?

How does External Locus of control (ELoc) relate to RSI?

Answer 11

• Individuals with high ILoc believe they can affect outcome of situation as they’re responsible for their own choices & decision
• Individuals with High external Locus of control (ELoc) beleive what happens to them is due to luck/fate & they have no impact on their destiny

Question 12

AO3 ILoc
Research support?
Spector

Answer 12

P - Strength is research support
E - Convincing research support that having ILoc encourages independent behaviour
E - Spector researches Loc & conformity in 157 students
- Found those who score high on ELoc were easily persuaded & likely to conform in situations producing NSI (emotional SI)
L - Means higher ILoc easier it is to RSI as people are less influenced by external factors
- People are seekers of information due to ILoc providing credibility for RSI

Question 13

AO3 ILoc
Exaggerated explanation?
Rutter

Answer 13

P - LOC may have been exaggerated
E - Rutter argued Loc only occurs in novel situations, but has little influence over behaviour in familiar situations where we rely on previous experience
E - e.g. When you have obeyed someone previously you’re likely to obey again, shows Loc does not work in repeat instances
L - Suggests Loc can only be used in singular fashion, not for all situations, so limits its applicability

Question 14

AO3 ILoc
Practical applications?

Answer 14

P - ILoc definition has practical applications
E - e.g. people with ILoc will be more self-confident in believing they will do well in per say exams
E - By people understanding ILoc people may achieve things through personal zeal & agency
L - Means explanation had been useful to society as society could have more successful, determined people

Question 15

AO3 ILoc
Research does not link between ILoc & RSI?

Answer 15

P - Research doesn’t support link between ILoc & RSI
E - Twenge found over a 40 year period people were more likely to RSI but became more external in their Loc
E - Means over time people behave in a particular way based on prior experience rather than due to their Loc
- Also indicates age may be a factor in RSI that should be included in research
L - Suggests having ILoc does not necessarily lead to RSI, because high ILoc are more self-confident & achievement orientated