Resisting Social Influence Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the two explanations of resistance to social influence
-Social support
-Locus of control (LOC)
What is meant by locus of control
- It refers to the sense we have about what directs events in our lives
(A concept proposed by Rotter 1966)
What two types of locus of control did Rotter (1966) propose
-Exernal locus of control
-Internal locus of control
What is meant by an external locus of control
Someone with an external locus of control believes that things happen outside of their own control E.G fate
What is meant by an internal locus of control
-Someone with an internal locus of control believes that things that happen to them are larger controlled by themselves
Example of Internal and External Locus of Control Beliefs
-Scenario: A student receives a poor grade on an exam.
-Internal Locus of Control: “I didn’t study enough. Next time, I’ll prepare better.”
→ Belief that personal actions influenced the outcome.
-External Locus of Control: “The exam was unfair and the teacher doesn’t like me.”
→ Belief that outside forces caused the outcome.(such as ‘ the teacher cant teach properly)
What is a continuum? (In the context of Locus of Control)
-Definition:
A continuum is a continuous range between two extremes, with many possible positions in between.
-In Locus of Control:
People aren’t just fully internal or fully external — they can fall anywhere along the scale, showing a mix of both types of beliefs. High internals at one end and high externals at the other. Low internal and low externals lie in between
People with which type of locus of control is more likely to resist social influence
-People with and internal LOC are more likely to resist social influence/ pressures to conform or obey
Why are people with an internal locus of control more likely to resist social influence
-If someone takes personal responsibility fir their actions (good or bad) they are more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs
-People with a high internal LOC are ore confident, more achievement orientated and have higher intelligence. These are traits that lead to greater resistance. They are also traits of leaders, who have keys need for social approval.
what kind of factor is LOC
dispositional
What kind of factor is social support
Situational
What is meant by social support
The presence of people
How can social support effect conformity
-Pressure to conform is reduced if other people are not conforming ( conformity is reduced by another dissenting peer)
-The dissenting peer acts as a ‘model’ for others, encouraging hem to follow their own conscious
How does Asche’s research support the role of social support in resisting conformity
-In the variation where the rea participant was given a partner that didn’t conform the rate of conformity dropped to 5% (reduced by 80%)
-This shows that social support breaks the unanimous position of the majority
How can social support affect obedience
-Pressure to obey can be reduced if another person is seen to disobey
-The participant may not follow the disobedient peer but the dissenters disobedience frees the participant to act from their own conscience, again acting as a ‘model’ for others. They challenge the legitimacy of the authority figure.
How does Milgram’s research support the role of social support in obedience
-In one of Milgram’s variations obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the genuine participants were joined by a disobedient confederate
Evaluation of locus of control as an explanation of resistance to social influence
-Evidence to support the role of LOC in resisting obedience
-Not all research supports the role of LOC in resistance
-LOC is a culturally biased explanation
Evaluation of social support as an explanation of resistance to social influence
-Evidence for the role of support in resisting conformity
-Evidence for the role of support for dissenting peers
-Does not account for individual differences in personality
Evidence that shows that the social support explanation of resistance does not account for individual differences in personality
Research shows that some individuals, particularly those with a high internal locus of control, are more likely to resist conformity or obedience regardless of whether they have social support.
- This suggests that resistance is not solely due to the presence of supportive others, but also depends on personal characteristics.
-E.G Rotter (1966)- found individuals with an internal locus of control feel a greater sense of responsibility over their actions and are less likely to be influenced by external pressures. This challenges the idea that social support alone explains resistance, as it overlooks the complex interaction between situational and dispositional factors.
-Therefore, the explanation is limited as it cannot fully explain why some people resist and others do not, even in the same supportive context.
Evidence for the role of support in resisting conformity
-Albrecht et al 2006)- In a programme †o help pregnant adolescents to resist pressure to smoke, social support was given by an older ‘buddy’. These adolescents were less likely to smoke at the end of the programme than a control group who did not have a buddy.
(Could also use Asche)
-This demonstrates that social support can effectively reduce conformity to harmful social pressures in real-life contexts. Therefore, social support is a credible explanation for resistance, not only in theory but in practical interventions.
Evidence showing that support from dissenting peers can significantly reduce obedience
-Gamson et al. (1982) asked groups of participants to provide evidence that could be used by an oil company in a smear campaign. Unlike Milgram’s studies where participants were alone, these participants were in groups — and 29 out of 33 groups (88%) rebelled against the instructions.
-This demonstrates that the presence of supportive peers can help individuals resist pressure from authority figures, suggesting that when others also disobey, it becomes easier to challenge the authority’s legitimacy and feel empowered to stand up to unjust orders.
-This supports the idea that social support plays a key role in undermining obedience and promoting resistance in real-world and group-based contexts.
Who provides evidence to support the role of LOC in resisting obedience
-Holland (1967)
How does Holland (1967) support the role of LOC in resisting obedience
-Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s obedience study and also measured whether participants had an internal or external locus of control. He found that 37% of participants with an internal locus of control refused to continue to the highest shock level, showing greater resistance. In contrast, only 23% of externals resisted, suggesting they were more likely to obey.
-This supports the idea that people with an internal LoC feel more in control of their own actions and are therefore more likely to resist pressure from authority figures. Holland’s findings provide empirical support for the link between personality and resistance to obedience, reinforcing the validity of the locus of control explanation.
