Lesson 9- Situational Explanations of Resistance to social influence

Question 1

What can exert powerful influences over people’s behaviour?

Answer 1

the pressure to CONFORM and/or OBEY

Question 2

Give an example where the pressure to conform+ obey had a powerful influence over an individuals’ behaviour

Answer 2

Obey:
-Milgram’s study= 65% administered shocks up to 450V to Mr.Wallace

Conform:
-In Asch’s study 75% of individuals conformed atleast once

Question 3

However, what percentage of participants refused to conform or obey in the Milgram + Asch study

Answer 3

Milgram= 35%
Asch= 25%

Question 4

What is social support theory?

Answer 4

a SITUATIONAL explanation of RESISTANCE to social influence that argues:

if one person refuses to conform/obey it increases the likelihood that others will also resist social influence

Question 5

What is a factor affecting the likelihood of resisting CONFORMITY

Answer 5

presence of an ALLY

Question 6

Why are people less likely to conform if an ally is present?

Answer 6

the ally refusing to CONFORM breaks the UNANIMITY(agreement) of the group

Question 7

What happens when unanimity is broken

Answer 7

people start to think that there are other EQUALLY LEGITIMATE ways of thinking or responding

Question 8

What is a factor affecting the likelihood of resisiting OBEDIENCE

Answer 8

presence of a DISOBEDIENT role model

Question 9

Why are people more likely to defy an authority figure if they see a disobedient role model refusing to obey?

Answer 9

The LEGITIMACY OF AUTHORITY is questioned when a person the rejects the instructions of an authority figure

Question 10

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of social support theory
(Hint: Milgram+ presence disobedient role model)

Answer 10

-Milgram = participants had to deliver electric shocks to a confederate when he got a question WRONG
65% shocked him up to 450v

-HOWEVER..
When another confederate acted as a disobedient role model only 10% of participants shocked up to 450v

Showing presence of a disobedient role model can lead to resistance to social influence

Question 11

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of social support theory
(Hint: Asch + presence of ally)

Answer 11

Asch= participants asked say which of the three test lines were similar to the standard line.
Participants were in a group of CONFEDERATES who PURPOSEFULLY gave the wrong answer, even though the correct answer was OBVIOUS

33% of the trials conformity occured (despite the probably of making a GENUINE mistake= 1%)

HOWEVER…
Conformity dropped to 5% when one confederate acted as an ALLY to the participant and gave the RIGHT answer

Question 12

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of social support theory
(Hint: personality traits)

Answer 12

-In both original studies of the Milgram+ Asch experiment some of the individuals= resisted social influence DESPITE no social support

-Suggests social support is not a COMPLETE explanation to resistance to social influence + other factors e.g PERSONALITY also play apart in allowing people to refuse conformity or OBEDIENCE