Explanations of resistance to social influence Flashcards
What percentage of Asch’s participants resisted social influence every trial?
25%
What % of Milgram’s participants showed some resistance to social influence?
35%
What are the 2 explanations of resisting social influence?
- Social support
- Internal locus of control
What is the research evidence of resisting social influence by social support?
- Asch found that when 1 confederate went against the group, conformity dropped from 32% to 5.5%
- In 1 of his variations, Milgram had 2 teachers (1 was a confederate), the confederate teacher was told to disobey the authority figure. Resisting social influence increased and obedience to 450V dropped to 10%
If the point is:
A strength of social support as an explanation for why people resist social influence is that there’s research to support the explanation.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- For example, in 1 of Asch’s variation studies, it was found that when the participant was offered social support the conformity rate dropped to 6%
Explanation- This enabled the participant to be free to follow their own conscience. The confederate acts as a model of independent behaviour, the participant doesn’t feel alone.
Link- This implies that their dissent gives rise to more dissent, because it shows that the majority is no longer unanimous.
If the point is:
A weakness of the social support explanation of resisting social influence is that it may be incomplete as there may be alternative explanations for resisting social influence, which may be deemed as better explanations.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- A more comprehensive explanation may suggest that in certain situations some people with specific personality characteristics are more likely to resist social influence than others when given an element of social support.
Explanation- This limits social support as an explanation, as not all people resist conforming when there’s social support.
Link- Therefore, an internal locus of control can explain this as it may be down to characteristics within an individual.
If the point is:
A weakness of the social support explanation is that it can be seen as having theoretical problems.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- Despite some studies showing social support can affect resisting social influence, some people still conform/obey, which means the explanation overlooks individual differences.
Explanation- For example, 15% of people still obeyed in Milgram’s study where 2 other participants refused to obey.
Link- This suggests that this explanation cannot be used as a sole explanation for resisting social influence, as there will still be some people who obey.
If the point is:
A strength of the social support explanation is that it has practical applications.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- By knowing about this research, people may be able to avoid situations that could cause negative social influences by finding themselves a partner who also wants to resist the social influence.
Explanation- For example, those who share similar beliefs about common goals will more likely gravitate towards each other in a conformity situation.
Link: This means that the explanation has been useful to society because it can explain many aspects of social behaviour within various everyday situations.
What is internal locus of control?
- People with a high internal locus of control are more able to resist pressures to conform or obey
- Higher internal locus of control- confident, intelligent, achievement orientated —> leads to greater resistance to social influence.
If the point is:
A strength of the internal locus of control explanation for why people conform is that there’s research to support it.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- There’s more convincing supporting evidence that say having an internal locus of control encourages independent behaviour.
Explanation- Spector investigated locus of control and conformity in 157 students and found that those who scored higher on external locus of control were more easily persuaded and likely to conform in situations that produced normative social influence.
Link- This means that the more internal your locus of control, the easier it is to resist social influence, as people are less influenced by people and events around them.
If the point is:
A weakness of the role of locus of control in resisting social influence is that it may have been exaggerated.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Explanation- Rutter pointed out that locus of control only comes into play in novel situations, meaning it has very little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations where your previous experience will always be more important.
Evidence- For example, when you’ve obeyed someone in the past, your memory of this event may lead you to obey again, showing that locus of control plays little difference in repeat situations.
Link- This suggests that locus of control can only be used in a singular fashion, and not for all situations, making it of limited applicability.
If the point is:
A weakness of both explanations is that there’s research which doesn’t support the link between internal locus of control and resisting social influence.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- Twenge found that over a 40 year period, people were becoming more likely to resist social influence, but were becoming more external in their locus of control.
Explanation- This means that, over time, people become accustomed to behaving in a certain way based on there prior experience rather than due to their locus of control.
Link- This suggests that having an internal locus of control doesn’t necessarily lead to resisting social influence.
If the point is:
A strength of the internal locus of control explanation is that it can be seen to have practical applications.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- For example, it can lead to strategies which help to prevent individuals succumbing to extremist beliefs/ behaviours.
Explanation- Individuals who have an external locus of control are more likely to conform to extremist beliefs and commands.
Link- This means that the explanation has been useful to society because if we can identify individuals with external locus of control, we can prevent.
What are the evaluation points for the social support explanation of why people resist social influence?
+ There’s research to support
— It may be incomplete as there may be alternative explanations for resisting social influence, which may be deemed as better explanations
— It can be seen to have theoretical problems
+ It has practical applications
What are the evaluation points for the internal locus of control explanation for why people resist social influence?
+ There is research to support it
— It may be exaggerated
— There is research which doesn’t support the link between internal locus of control and resisting social influence
+ It has practical applications
