Explanations Of Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

Resisting conformity

Answer 1

• Presence of ally- decrease in conformity by 70%.
• Asch variation (confederate that stated the correct answer)- 5% conformity.
• Reduces group pressure to conform- breaks compliance.

Question 2

Resisting obedience

Answer 2

• Presence of an ally- decrease in obedience (from 65%-10%)

Question 3

Social support evaluation- research support for social support

Answer 3

• One strength is research support for social support.
• Ev- Psychologists found when an ally (confederate) gave the right answer first the real participant was more likely to resist conformity.
• Ex- Therefore, the presence of just 1 dissenter is enough to break conformity and stop NSI. The reason is breaks group pressure to comply due to lack of unanimity. The participants have confidence to resist conformity.
  -However, this does not work if the ally is just before the participant when answering. This is because a ‘group norm’ has already been created, so the dissenter has less effect in in reducing group pressure to resist conformity.

Question 4

Social support evaluation criticism- lacks ecological validity and mundane realism

Answer 4

• However, the research lacks ecological validity and mundane realism.
• Ev- This is measuring line length. There are no consequences to a wrong answer.
• Ex- Too simplistic- it does not explain how to get that first dissenter (won’t have an ally), so not a practical explanation. May be more the person’s personality that creates resistance than social support (internal LOC).
• However, there is real life evidence- individuals resisted conform to binge drinking if 1-2 friends also resisted. Therefore, social support does increase resistance.

Question 5

Internal locus of control (LOC)

Answer 5

• What happens is largely a consequence of their own behaviour so are more likely to resist social influence.
• Believe that one can control much of one’s life and succeed in difficult or stressful situations.
• Are active seekers of information that is useful to them so are less likely to rely on the opinions of others.
• Tend to be more achievement orientated.

Question 6

External locus of control (LOC)

Answer 6

• What happens is largely a consequence of external reasons so are less likely to resist social influence.
• Tend to believe what happens to them is controlled by external factors.
• Luck and fate are seen as important factors.
• Face stressful situations with a more passive attitude.

Question 7

LOC evaluation support- strong positive correlation between LOC and resistance to social influence

Answer 7

• One strength is there is a strong positive correlation between LOC and resistance to social influence.
• Ev- A meta analysis of studies used Rotter’s LOC internal-external scale. The meta analysis found a positive correlation, the higher the score (more internal LOC) the more resistant to social influence.
• Ex- More likely to resist- believe they have control, independent, don’t rely on the opinions of others, whereas external more likely to agentically shift, place responsibility onto the agent or take on opinions of the group (conformity).
• However, it’s correlational (no cause and effect). Could be other extraneous variables. Furthermore, the results are all based on self report which shows social desirability.

Question 8

LOC evaluation support- Research support with high ecological validity

Answer 8

• On the other hand, there is research support with high ecological validity.
• Ev- Compared 406 non Jewish people who protected and saved the jews to 126 people who did not. People who help protect jews had an internal LOC.
• Ex- Resistance to social influence in real life setting. The people who help protect the jews from Nazi’s had high internal LOC, believed they were responsible for saving jews. Whereas, external LOC did not help as they felt what happened to the jews was not as a result of them helping or not, but external reasons, therefore more likely to resist obedience.
• However, other variables for resistance like social support. Furthermore, not everyone resists social influence. This may be because they have an AP. Therefore, LOC is not the sole answer.