Resistance to social influence

Question 1

resistance to social influence

Answer 1

• the ability to go against the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey to authority
• influenced by situational and dispositional factors

Question 2

social support

Answer 2

• the presence of ppl resisting pressure to conform or obey an authority helps others do the same

Question 3

what does social support do?

Answer 3

• ppl acting as models to show others resistance is possible
• diffuses responsibility, you won’t be the only person getting in trouble
• reduces peer pressure (not long-lasting)
• allows people to act in an autonomous state

Question 4

social support in Asch:

Answer 4

• conformity reduced to 5.5.% when 1 Confederate gave a different answer
• breaks the unanimous position of the majority making it easier to conform

Question 5

Obedience in Milgram:

Answer 5

• dropped from 65% to 10% when the genuine ppt was joined by a disobedient confederate
• people are more willing to resist when joined by an ally

Question 6

strengths of social support

Answer 6

RESEARCH SUPPORT
- e.g. Allen & Levine: independence increased with the presence of 1 dissenter in an Asch type study even when he had ‘vision issues’

FURTHER RESEARCH SUPPORT
- Rees & Wallace: teens w/ 1 or 2 mates that didn’t drink were less likely to drink themselves

Question 7

locus of control

Answer 7

• proposed by Rotter in 1966
• refers to the sense we have about what directs events in our lives
• can be internal or external

Question 8

internal loc

Answer 8

believe they’re mostly responsible for what happens to them

Question 9

external loc

Answer 9

believe things happen without their own control

Question 10

internal loc resisting social influence

Answer 10

• more likely to resist pressure to conform/obey
• by taking responsibility, more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs - independent thinking and behaviour
• more self confident, achievement oriented
• less need for social approval leads to greater reisistance

Question 11

limitations of locus of control

Answer 11

❌ contradictory research
- Twenge et al: people have become more resistant to obedience but more external
- challenges link between internal LOC and resistance

Question 12

strengths of locus of control

Answer 12

✅ research support for resisting obedience
- holland: 37% internal didn’t go to 450v compared to 23% externals

Question 13

counter peel: locus of control

Answer 13

✅ research support for resisting social influence
- Spector: ppts more likely to conform due to NSI if external so supports link
❌ only for ISI not NSI
- LOC not relevant for all instances of conformity and resistance