Resistance to social influence Flashcards
revision
Resistance to social influence
Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
SOCIAL SUPPORT
Resisting conformity in Asch study
The pressure to conform can be resisted if there are other people present who are not conforming. As we saw in Asch study the confederate who is not conforming may not be giving the ‘right’ answer. However, simply the fact that someone else is not following the majority is social support.
Resisting need to obey - 65% to 10% when a confederate also didn’t obey.
Locus of control
People with a high internal LOC are more able to resist pressure to conform or obey. People with a high internal take responsibility for their actions and recognise their actions have consequences. These people tend to base their decisions on their own beliefs rather than following others.
Another explanation is that people with a low internal LOC tend to be more self-confident, more achievement orientated and have higher intelligence which means they are likely to have greater responsibility. These are also characteristics of leaders, who have much less need for social approval than others.
Eval - LOC conformity
Twenge analysed data of the US over 50 years. People becoming less external in LOC but less conformist. The other would be expected.
Eval - LOC obedience
Milgram’s study repeated. 23% didn’t go to highest shock. 37% of internals didn’t.
Eval - social support conformity
Allen & Levine repeated Asch’s study. A dissenter with thick glasses (poor vision to see lines). Conformity still decreased even if the person might be wrong, it is the idea of having a supporter.
Eval - social support obedience
Gamson -found higher resistance than Milgram. His participants were in groups and 29/33 rebelled.
