Resistance to social influence (booklet 4)

Question 1

Define resistance to social influence

Answer 1

Independent behaviour
Ability to resist pressures to conform and obey authority figures

Question 2

Name 2 explanations for resistance to social influence/ independent behaviour

Answer 2

Social support (situational)
Locus of control (dispositional)

Question 3

Describe social support as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 3

Situational factor
An individual gets support from other people who are also resisting the pressure to obey/ conform (dissenters)
This increases and individual’s confidence that their view is correct and shared by others
Disobedient behaviour is less obvious so isn’t seen as a single minority view

Question 4

Give evidence for social support as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 4

Asch - shows dissenter doesn’t have to give right answer when breaking unanimous front - not following majority enables a person to follow their own conscience - other person acts as a ‘model’
Milgram - social support helped people resist obedience - when 2 confederate teachers were present who both refused to continue obedience fell to 10%

Question 5

Describe locus of control as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 5

Dispositional factor
An individual’s believe about the degree of control they have over things that happen in their life

Question 6

Describe the 2 types of locus of control that Rotter (1966) identified

Answer 6

Internal - when individuals hold themselves personally responsible for events occuring in their life
External - when individuals believe events in their life are due to external factors outside of their control

Question 7

Describe how an internal locus of control influences obedience

Answer 7

More likely to resist pressures to conform + obey
Accept responsibility for their actions and make decisions based on their own beliefs
Have less need for social aproval
Have greater confidence, greater self belief, and less fear of failure

Question 8

Describe how an external locus of control influences obedience

Answer 8

Less likely to resist pressures to conform and obey
Believe they have no power to affect circumstances in their life
Greater need for social approval
Have lower confidence, lower self belief, strong fear of failure

Question 9

Give evidence supporting locus of control as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 9

Holland (1967) replicated Milgram’s study
Internal LoC P’s = 37% resisted
External LoC P’s = 23% resisted

Question 10

Give a limitation of locus of control as an explanation for resistance to social influence

Answer 10

Rotter et al (1982) found LOC only important in new situations
So people who have conformed before are likely to do so again, even with high internal LOC
Therefore LOC not as important/ can only explain a narrow range of situations