Locus of Control and Social Support Flashcards
How can we resist the urge to conform?
Use examples from Asch’s study - what were Asch’s PPTs provided with?
Pressure to conform can be reduced if there is the presence of someone else who isn’t conforming. For example, in Asch’s study, the non-conforming confederate freed the real PPT to also not conform and act under their own conscience, providing the real PPT with social support
How might we resist the urge to obey?
If we see another disobedient person, we are less likely to also obey.
In Milgram’s study, what did obedience fall from/to when the PPT was joined by a disobedient confederate?
65% to 10%
In Milgram’s study, what did the disobedient confederate act as?
How does this influence the PPTs behaviour?
A model of dissent. Even if the PPT still continues to obey, they will have been freed to act under their own conscience.
What is social support?
Freeing another person to not follow the majority by disobeying/not conforming.
What is locus of control? How do we assess it?
The sense of control we have over what directs events in our lives. LOC can be assessed using a locus of control scale.
What is an internal locus of control?
Where a person takes responsibility for what happens to them.
What is an external locus of control?
They believe that things that happen to them are mostly out of their control and are a matter of luck/other outside forces.
Why are people with a high internal locus of control more likely to be able to resist pressures to conform/obey?
Decisions they make are based off their own beliefs rather than others opinions. They also take responsibility for their actions therefore do not feel the need to follow others.
Describe the traits that leaders typically have, linking to internal locus of control.
Confident, intelligent. They don’t feel the need to follow others.
Explain the strength of there being real world research support for locus of control and resistance.
When Holland repeated Milgram’s study, what else did he measure?
What percentage of internals did not continue to 450v?
What percentage of externals didn’t continue to 450v?
How does this explain resistance?
Holland repeated Milgram’s baseline study and measured whether PPTs were internals or externals/ He found more internals (37%) didn’t continue to the highest shock level (the sample showed some resistance) compared to externals (23%). Research of this nature increases the validity of the LOC explanation and our confidence that it can explain resistance.
Explain the strength of there being research support for the role of dissenting peers in obedience.
Gamson’s PPTs needed to produce evidence that would be helpful for what?
Gamson’s study found higher levels of what than Milgram’s? Why?
What percentage of PPTs rebelled against orders and what does this show about disobedience?
William Gamson’s PPTs were told to produce evidence that would be useful to help an oil company run a smear campaign. This study found higher levels of resistance than Milgram did. This was PPTs were in groups so could discuss their answers. 88% of PPTs rebelled against orders, showing how peer support can lead to disobedience by undermining legitimacy of authority.
Explain the strength of there being research support for the role of dissenting peers for conformity.
What percentage did conformity fall by in Asch’s study when PPTs were joined by a dissenting confederate?
How does this show social support?
For example, in Asch’s study, when a non conforming confederate joined the study, conformity fell by 25%. This shows evidence for social support because the figures show how people feel less afraid to go against the majority when someone else is present who also does not agree with majority. This means that the person is ‘freed’ to act under their own conscience and becomes less afraid of conflicts between the group.
Explain the limitation of there being contradicting research for internal LOC and resistance.
In a meta analysis, what was found about changes in obedience over time?
What type of LOC has increased over time?
If people have become more disobedient then what type of LOC should have increases?
What does this challenge about LOC theory?
What could findings reflect instead?
Twenge conducted a meta-analysis and found that over time people have become more resistant to obedience yet the number of people with an external LOC has also increased. If resistance is linked to an internal LOC, we would have expected people to become more internal over time. This challenges the link between resisting obedience and internal LOC, but could reflect a changing society
