Resistance to Social Influence Flashcards
What is resistance to social influence?
Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey the authority.
What are the two explanations of resistance to social influence?
Locus of Control & Social Support.
What is social support?
The pressure to conform can be resisted if there are other people present who are not conforming.
E.G ASCH.
What is the idea of Locus of Control?
Internal control vs external control.
Some people are internal (they think thinks happen to them that are under their own control). Some external (they put things happening down to luck/chance).
What was the research of Susan Albrecht (2006)
Evaluated teen fresh start USA.
8 week programme to help pregnant teens stop smoking.
Partnered with older buddy (social support) and control group no buddy.
Those partnered with older buddy less likely to smoke after 8 weeks.
What was the research of William Gamson (1982)
Participants were told to produce evidence that would be used to help and oil company run smear campaign.
29/33 rebelled against orders (they were in groups).
What was the Vernon Allen (1967)?
Showed social support can help individuals to resist the influence of a group. Asch type task, dissenter someone with good eyesight 64% of genuine participants refused to conform.
What was the research of Charles Holland (1967)
Repeated Milgram’s baseline study and measured whether participants were internals or externals.
Found 37% of internals did not continue to the highest shock level whereas only 23% did continue.
What did Jean Twenge find?
Analysed data from American locus of control studies conducted over a 40 year period. Data showed over this time span, people became more resistant to obedience but also more external.
