Resistance Flashcards
(11 cards)
Define resistance to social influence.
We are often affected by others, whether it is pressure to conform or being told what to do. We don’t always go along with the group and we don’t always obey - this is resistance to social influence. Situational and dispositional factors affect resistance.
Define social support for resisting conformity as a situational explanation for resistance.
If there is just one other person in the group who is not in agreement with others, this gives the social support to the individual who has a different opinion to a group. The dissenter doesn’t even need to hold the same opinion as the other person, just the presence of another going against a group is helpful as it breaks the unanimity. They offer potential for different, legitimate ways of thinking that gives an individual confidence to act upon their own judgment.
Give a strength of the social support for resisting conformity explanation.
Asch - conformity rates fell from 33% to 5% wen one confederate gave correct answer, and fell to 9% when one confederate gave a wrong but different answer. If that dissenting confederate began to agree with others again then so did the naive pp. also gave the right answers when dissenting confederate wire thick glasses + said they had visual problems. shows that conformity is very dependent on an ally
Give a criticism of the social support for resisting conformity explanation.
Aschs research - agreement with the majority was a minority response overall - the most common behaviour was to resist social influence even without the dissenting confederate.
Describe the social support for resisting obedience explanation for resisting social influence.
Having social support through witnessing another person refusing to obey can help an individual resist the pressure to obey. The disobedient can act as a role model, and habit an ally can help the individual cope with the awkwardness involved in contravening social conventions of obeying a person w legitimate authority.
Give 2 strengths of social support for resisting obedience explanation.
When there was a disobedient confederate who refused to give electric shocks in milgrams study that pps knew about, obedience fell from 65% to 10%.
A group of German women in Berlin protested against the gestapo holding 2000 Jewish men prisoners. The gestation ordered women to disperse and threatened to open fire but they refused to obey, showing that being w other disobedient models enabled the women to resist.
What is locus of control?
Where an individual feels their control comes from - inside or outside.
Internal locus of control = things happen to them as a result of their own behaviour.
External locus of control = things happen as a result of external factors.
Briefly explain locus of control as a dispositional explanation for resisting social influence (conformity and obedience)
Internal locus or control = more likely to resist social pressure because they believe they’re responsible for their own actions and consequences of behaviour. Less likely to attribute actions to others and are able to withstand discomfort of resisting pressure bc they would feel greater discomfort allowing others to control their behaviour. More confident and need less social approval.
Give a strength for locus of control explanation for resisting OBEDIENCE.
In a repeat of milgrams study, Holland found that 37% of those with an ILOC refused to give shocks to highest level whereas only 23% of those with an ELOC refused to continue to end.
Give a criticism of locus of control as an explanation for resisting OBEDIENCE.
Researchers analyses data from obedience studies over a 40yr period which showed people have become more resistant over time but people have also become more external in their locus of control. If ILOC caused resistance we would see the opposite.
Give 3 strengths of locus of control as an explanation for resisting CONFORMITY.
Study compared LOC and resisting conformity in 157 graduates. Results showed that those with ILOC were less likely to conform to be liked and accepted within a group.
Undergraduates were exposed to others expressing either liberal or conservative views on drug taking. Those with ILOC conformed less to pro-drug attitudes
Meta analysis of LOC and conformity found people w ILOC were less easily persuaded and less likely to conform than those w ELOC
