resistance to social influence Flashcards
(10 cards)
resistance to social influence definition
a person’s ability to limit the social influence on them by maintaining integrity in their thoughts and actions
internal locus of control
believe that they have the ability to control their decisions and any success is due to their choice. they are confident and motivated
external locus of control
believe that they have very little or no control over their lives. they are passive and accepting of what fate has in store for them
conformity
The presence of an ally who gives a different answer helps individuals resist conformity by breaking the unanimity of the group. It reduces the pressure to conform and increases confidence in one’s own decision. In Asch’s variation, when one confederate gave a different answer, conformity dropped from 33% to 5.5%. This shows that social support empowers individuals to act independently, even in the face of majority influence.
obedience
The presence of an ally provides social support, which makes it easier to resist pressure to obey authority. Seeing someone else disobey acts as a role model, giving individuals confidence to follow their own conscience. In Milgram’s variation, when two confederates refused to continue shocking the learner, obedience rates in the real participant dropped from 65% to 10%. This shows that resistance is strengthened by social support, as individuals no longer feel isolated in their defiance.
individual differences
People with high self-esteem or low need for social approval are less likely to conform, as they are more confident in their own judgments and less dependent on group validation. This suggests that personality factors play a role in conformity, with some individuals being naturally more resistant to social pressure than others.
group influence
If others in the group are seen as less knowledgeable or less confident, individuals are less likely to conform because they do not trust the group’s accuracy. This reduces the impact of ISI, making it easier to resist pressure.
weakness- role of LOC may be exaggerated
Rotter et al argued that locus of control has little influence in familiar situations, where past experiences play a bigger role in behaviour. This means LOC only explains resistance in new or unfamiliar situations, so its influence is limited and may not be a significant factor in everyday obedience or conformity.
strength- research support
Holland repeated Milgram’s study and measured which participants were internal and external. 37% of internals did not shock at the highest level, compared to 23% of externals =resistance is a result of LOC.
weakness- contradicting research
Twenge - conducted a meta-analysis of obedience studies over a 40-year period and found that over time, people have become more resistant to obedience but also more external in their locus of control. This challenges the traditional view that an internal LOC is linked to greater resistance to social influence.
However, these results may reflect broader societal changes, such as increased awareness of external forces like economic instability or political uncertainty, which can make individuals feel less in control of their lives, even if they are still likely to resist authority.
