4.1.1 - Resistance To Social Norms

Question 1

Who studies locus of control

Answer 1

Rotter

Question 2

What is a locus of control

Answer 2

A persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour, it bias a personality explanation of behaviour( dispositional)
- it is measures on a scale of high internal to high external

Question 3

Characteristics of an internal locus of control

Answer 3

• high level of personal control over their own lives and behaviour
• takes personal responsibility for their achievements/ mistakes

Question 4

Characteristics of an external locus of control

Answer 4

• life is determined by external or environmental factors such as luck or fate

Question 5

Internal locus of controls - relation to social influence

Answer 5

• high internals actively seek out info which will help them personally
• they are less likely to rely on others
• they are achievement orientated
• are able to resist pressure from others

Question 6

External locus of controls - relation to social influence

Answer 6

• high externals are more likely to be influenced by others
• as they dont believe they excersise personal control over their own lives
• so the order was “meant to be” for them

Question 7

What is social support

Answer 7

When presence of someone else not conforming/obeying makes it easier for others to also not obey/ conform

Question 8

How does social support effect conformity

Answer 8

• social support can help individuals resist conformity
  -> Asch research : the confederate that doesn’t conform with the rest of the group didn’t have to provide the correct answer for others to also not conform
  
  • all that was needed was a relief of social pressure

Question 9

How does social support effect obedience

Answer 9

• the pressure to obey can be reduced if another person is also seen to disobey
  -> milgrams variations : obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the ppts were joined by a disobedient confederate

Question 10

LOC A03 - exaggeration of the LOC

Answer 10

• Rotter found that LOC is only important in new situations so cannot be applied to familiar situations as prior experiences may be more important
• LOC can only explain a limited range of situations
• less generalisable to everyday life

Question 11

Evaluation LOC - research support

Answer 11

Holland(1967)
- repeated milgrams study and measured whether people were internals or externals
- 37% of internals didn’t continue to the highest shock level
- 23% of externals didn’t continue
- supports claim that externals are more likely to obey
- increases external validity of LOC

Question 12

Social support A03 - Allen and Levine

Answer 12

• supports social supports effect on conformity
• carried out an Asch type study and found that independence increased is a dissenter was present
• when the dissenter has thick glasses and complained about bad eyesight, independence still increased
• shows that resistance is motivated by a relief of pressure rather than following what others say

Question 13

Social support A03 - Gamson et al

Answer 13

• supported social supports effects on obedience
• ppts were in **groups* had to produce evidence to help an oil company run a ‘smear campaign’
• 88% of groups rebelled which is much higher than only 35% in Milgrams study
• shows that peer support ca be linked to greater resistance to obedience/ authority