Lesson 9 - Situational Explainations Of Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

What is Resistance to Social Influence?

Answer 1

• Resisting the pressure/influence to conform/obey

e. g 35% did not obey in Milgram’s experiment, 25% did not conform once in Asch’s experiment

Question 2

What is the Social Support Theory?

Answer 2

• A situational explanation of resistance
• When one person refuses to conform, it increases chances of others also refusing to conform
• People are more likely not to conform if they have an ally who also does not conform

Question 3

How does an ally help break conformity?

Answer 3

• An ally breaks the unanimity of the group (unanimous groups are more influential: e.g Asch)
• When the unanimity is broken, people think there are other, legitimate ways of thinking
• An ally gives them an independent assessment of reality
• An ally gives a person more confidence in their decision and allows them to stand up to the majority

Question 4

Why are people likely to defy an authority figure?

Answer 4

• If they see a disobedient role model refusing to obey

- Rejection of the instructions of an authority figure challenges the legitimate authority held by that figure

Question 5

Evaluation of Social Support Theory (+)

Answer 5

• Milgram (1974) 65% participants shocked Mr Wallace up to 450V, but when there was a disobedient role model, only 10% shocked him to 450V
• Asch (1951) In 33% of trials, participants conformed to the wrong answer. However, when one confederate acted as an ally and gave the right answer, conformity dropped to 5%

Question 6

Evaluation of Social Support Theory (-)

Answer 6

• Both studies had originally displayed figures of people being able to resist social influence without social support. Therefore, it is not a complete explanation of resistance to social influence, and other factors may play a part.