RESISTANCE TO SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Question 1

What 2 factors influence the ability to withstand social pressure

Answer 1

• situational
• dispositional

Question 2

What idea did Rottler propose?

Answer 2

• locus of control
• is a scale that people’s positions can change over time
• those with an internal LỘC are more likely to withstand social pressures, due to high levels of personal responsibility

Question 3

• INTERNAL locus of control description
• EXTERNAL locus of control description

Answer 3

• describes an individual that feels in control of what happens to them
• someone who believes that what happens to them is due to fate/external forces in their environment

Question 4

How did Holland’s research support act as a strength for L.O.C’s link to resistance to social influence

Answer 4

• repeated Milgrim’s baseline study, measured ppt’s LOC
• a higher number of ppts with an internal LOC disobeyed/did not continue shocking than those with an external LOC
• this is a strength, as it shows that LOC is at least partly involved in a persons resistance to social influence
• increases validity of LOC as an explanation of disobedience

Question 5

Outline a limitation for LOC’s role in resistance to social influence
- Twenge’s longitudinal study

Answer 5

• Twenge et al conducted a longitudinal study (40 yrs) of data from LOC studies
• found that people became more resistant to social influence, but also more external
• limitation, as we would expect people to become more internal if resistance is linked to LOC
• LOC not a valid explanation

Question 6

Outline a limitation to the theory and its links to resistance to social influence
- Rottler’s criticisms

Answer 6

• stated that LOC is not the most important factor in whether a person resists social influence
• LOC significantly affects behaviour in new situations only
• if you have previously conformed/obeyed, you will do so again regardless of which LOC you have

Question 7

How does social support affect resistance to social influence

Answer 7

• people act as models, showing others that resistance is possible
• associated with diffusion of responsibility/ more people disobeying, less severe the consequences

Question 8

• how can social support affect resistance to CONFORMITY
• how does Asch’s study show this

Answer 8

• an ally (non-conforming) can help individuals build confidence and remain independent
• ASCH’S UNANIMITY STUDY: a dissenter freed the ppt from conforming

Question 9

• how can social support affect resistance to OBEDIENCE
• how does Milgrim’s study show this

Answer 9

• if another person is seen to be “disobedient”, pressure can be resisted by an individual
• MILGRIM: obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when another confederate disobeyed and refused to administer shocks

Question 10

• how did Albrecht et als 8-week programme strengthen arguments for social support
• did this involve resistance to conformity or obedience?

Answer 10

• helped pregnant teens resist pressure to smoke
• those with older mentor were less likely to smoke than those who did not
• shows social support can help resistance to social influence in the real world
• CONFORMITY

Question 11

• how did Gamson et al’s research into smear campaigns strengthen arguments for social support?
• did this involve conformity or obedience?

Answer 11

• ppts told to produce evidence for a smear campaign
• higher resistance shown than those in Milgrim’s, as ppts were in groups
• 29/33 groups rebelled, showing social support (discussion) can undermine legitimacy of authority, leading to disobedience
• OBEDIENCE

Question 12

• how did Allen + Levine’s recreation of Asch’s study strengthen arguments for social support?
• did this involve obedience or conformity?

Answer 12

• 64% of ppts resisted conformity when the dissenter had “good eyesight”
• when dissenter had “poor eyesight”, resistance was 36%
• when there was no dissenter, resistance was 3%
• showing that a dissenter in any form still increases resistance to social influence
• CONFORMITY