Lesson 10- Explanations of resistance to Social Influence (Social Support)

Question 1

How does social support help to resist social influence in terms of conformity?

Answer 1

• Situational explanation
• Other people going against majority ⬇️ pressure to conform (Social Influence)
• Non-dissenter provides break in unanimity of group- allows person- follow own conscience

Question 2

How does social support help to resist social influence in terms of obedience?

Answer 2

Situational explanation

Obedience ⬇️ when another person disobeys

Question 3

Give an example of where social support has decreased social influence in terms of conformity

Answer 3

Example- Asch’s variations:
When 1 confederate gave correct answer-> conformity ⬇️ from 33% to 5.5%
When 1 confederate gave different incorrect answer to majority-> conformity ⬇️ from 33% to 9%
… social support allowed participant to follow own conscience and provided confidence within themselves to suggest they are right and … disagree with majority and ✖️ conform

Question 4

Give an example of where social support has decreased social influence in terms of obedience

Answer 4

Example- Milgram’s variations:

Obedience ⬇️ from 65%-> 10% real pps joined by disobedient confederate- allows use of own conscience

Question 5

What are evaluation points of social support to help resist social influence?

Answer 5

👍- research supports idea that social support ⬇️ social influence- e.g. Asch’s study- 1 dissenter ⬇️ conformity to 5.5% & in Milgram’s study when real pps joined by disobedient confederate (refused to give the shocks)- obedience rates ⬇️ to 10%
👎- group size- social support explanation 💪 when you have group size of ⬇️ 10 people then 1 dissenter can influence non conformity or disobedience BUT in real 🌎- group sizes massive (e.g. 100s) & … having 1 dissenter in a big group will ✖️ have any influence on the majority
… studies explaining social support- restricted to small group sizes & may ✖️ represent group sizes in the real 🌎
👍- studies applied to real life- e.g. Gamson’s study- ⬆️ ecological validity as pps ✖️ know they were participating in psychological study … ✖️ show demand characteristics. ALSO task given to pps- very real to life- e.g. having discussion about standards of behaviour in community