Locus of Control- Resisting Social Influence Flashcards
Who proposed Locus of Control as an explanation for resistance to social influence?
Rotter
What is LOC?
The extent to which an individual believes they have control over what happens to them.
How is LOC measured?
Along a scale using a forced choice questionnaire
What are the 2 types of LOC?
Internal LOC, External LOC
What is an External LOC?
The belief that what happens to an individual is largely outside of their control, and is governed by other factors such as luck and the influence of others
What is an Internal LOC?
The belief that what happens to an individual is largely within their control, and that they have autonomy over what happens to them
What type of LOC is associated with resistance to Social Influence and why?
Internal LOC, as people with an Internal LOC tend to take personal responsibility for their actions and be less concerned with social approval. This means that their decisions tend to be based on their own ideologies, rather than depending on the opinion of others.
What study supports LOC as an explanation for resistance to obedience?
Holland’s replica of Milgram’s Shock Experiment where he measured participant’s LOC and found that Internals showed more resistance than Externals
What was the percentage difference in the amount of Internals that didn’t go to 450V compared to the amount of Externals in Holland’s Replica of Milgram’s Experiment?
14% (more Externals than Internals)
What other explanations in terms of Obedience & Resistance does LOC link to?
Authoritarian Personality- evidence suggests that those with an External LOC are more likely to also have an Authoritarian Personality, therefore increasing obedience
What conflicting evidence is there regarding LOC as an explanation for resistance to obedience?
Twenge’s analysis found that overtime Americans have become more resistant to obedience, but also more external in terms of their LOC, casting doubt on the validity of LOC as an explanation
How can LOC be criticised for being biased?
It characterises having an external LOC as a “bad” thing, claiming that those with an external LOC are less likely to achieve, despite there being no evidence to support this. This suggests it is a flawed and potentially oversimplified black-and-white explanation.
