Resistance to Social Influence Flashcards
(15 cards)
what are the two factors that can lead resistance to social influence?
- locus of control
- social support
what is meant by locus of control?
the extent to which individuals believe that they can control the events affecting them
- it is a continuum
what is the scale called that measures LoC?
Rotter Scale
what type of LoC is a low score out of 8 on the Rotter scale?
internal LoC
what type of LoC is a high score out of 8 on the Rotter scale?
external LoC
what are the characteristics of an internal LoC?
- believe they have control over life and future
- greater self-confidence/ leadership abilities
what are the characteristics of an external LoC?
- luck and fate control future
- everything is out of their control
what type of LoC is more likely to resist pressures to conform?
internal LoC
what type of LoC is more likely to obey?
external LoC
what is social support?
the presence of people who resist pressures to conform can help others to do the same
- e.g. an ally or disobedient role model
what type of LoC resists pressure to conform or obey?
high internal LoC
why do people with a high internal LoC resist pressure to conform?
- they take personal responsibility
- more self confident
- more achievement-orientated
- higher intelligence
- characteristics of leaders
what is resistance to social influence?
- refers to the ability of people to withstand social pressure to conform to the majority or obey the authority
what are the evaluations for social support?
+ research evidence for the positive effects of social support = Albrecht et al conducted an 8 week programme to help pregnant teens aged 14 to 19 resist the pressures to smoke. Social support was provided by a slightly older mentor or buddy, at end of 8 week those with buddy were significantly less likely to smoke than those without buddy
+ research support for the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience = Gamson et al asked ppts to provide evidence which would help an oil company run a smear campaign. There was high levels of resistance as they were in groups and could discuss. 29 out of 33 people rebelled against orders/
what are the evaluations for locus of control?
+ research evidence for link between LoC and resistance to obedience = Holland repeated Milgram’s baseline procedure where participants were either internal;s or externals. found that 37% of ppts who disobeyed were internal and 23% were external
- evidence challenges the link between LoC and obedience = Twenge et al, analysed data from American locus control of control studies over a 40 year period. Over this time, people become more obedient but also more external
