P1 Social Influence: Resistance To Social Influence Flashcards
What is resistance to social influence?
Resistance to social influence is the ability of individuals to oppose pressure to conform to a majority or obey an authority figure by maintaining personal autonomy and integrity in their thoughts, decisions, and actions.
What was the overall conformity rate in Asch’s study?
The overall conformity rate was 32%.
What percentage of participants in Asch’s study resisted conformity on every critical trial?
25% of participants resisted conformity on every critical trial.
What was the overall obedience rate in Milgram’s study?
The overall obedience rate was 65%.
What percentage of participants in Milgram’s study resisted obedience by refusing to deliver the full 450V shock?
35% of participants resisted obedience by refusing to deliver the full 450V shock.
What are the two main explanations for resistance to social influence?
The two main explanations are Social Support (a situational explanation) and Locus of Control (a dispositional explanation).
What is social support in the context of resistance to social influence?
Social support refers to the presence of others who defy authority or go against the majority opinion. Even a single ally can reduce the perceived risk of nonconformity or disobedience.
How does social support influence conformity?
When individuals have a nonconformist ally, they are more likely to resist conforming because the ally breaks the group’s unanimity and provides an alternative viewpoint.
How does social support influence obedience?
A disobedient role model challenges the authority figure’s legitimacy, which increases the likelihood that others will resist obeying the authority’s commands.
What is the role of diffusion of responsibility in social support?
Diffusion of responsibility suggests that the more people who disobey, the less severe the consequences will be for any one individual. This encourages others to resist conformity or obedience.
Fill in the blank: Social support helps to counter feelings of ___ and ___, which strengthens an individual’s ability to resist social influence.
isolation and vulnerability
True or False: Social support is only effective if multiple people are dissenting or disobeying.
False. Even a single person dissenting can be enough to reduce pressure on others.
How does social support help resist obedience?
• Point: Social support reduces the pressure to obey.
• Evidence: In Milgram’s variation, when two confederates refused to continue at 150v and 210v, the obedience rate dropped from 65% to 10%.
• Counter: Some participants still obeyed even with social support.
• Explanation: The presence of defiant peers weakened the legitimacy of authority, making it harder for the experimenter to maintain control.
How does social support help resist conformity?
• Point: Social support reduces the pressure to conform.
• Evidence: In Asch’s unanimity variation, when a confederate gave the correct answer, conformity dropped from 32% to 5.5%. Allen and Levine found that even an ally with poor eyesight reduced conformity.
• Counter: Some participants still conformed, even with the ally.
• Explanation: Even invalid social support can reduce conformity, but other factors might also influence conformity levels.
Why is social support an incomplete explanation for resistance?
• Point: Social support doesn’t fully explain resistance.
• Evidence: In Milgram’s study, only 10% resisted obedience, and in Asch’s study, only 5.5% resisted conformity.
• Counter: Factors like locus of control or having an authoritarian personality can also influence resistance.
• Explanation: Social support helps, but personal traits and other factors are crucial for understanding why some people resist.
What is locus of control in psychology?
Locus of control is a personality trait that refers to a person’s belief system about the causes of their experiences and the factors that influence their successes or failures. It is measured on a scale from internal to external.
What is locus of control in psychology?
Locus of control is a personality trait that refers to a person’s belief system about the causes of their experiences and the factors that influence their successes or failures. It is measured on a scale from internal to external.
What does an internal locus of control mean?
Individuals with an internal locus of control believe they have personal control over their lives and outcomes. They attribute success or failure to their own efforts and abilities.
What does an external locus of control mean?
People with an external locus of control believe that external factors, such as fate, luck, or other powerful forces, control their lives. They attribute outcomes to things beyond their control
How does an internal locus of control affect resistance to conformity?
Individuals with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist conformity because they believe in their ability to make independent decisions. They feel confident in standing by their own beliefs, even when under social pressure.
How does an internal locus of control affect resistance to obedience?
People with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist obedience because they take responsibility for their actions. They are more confident in questioning authority and will defy commands that conflict with their values.
True or False: People with an external locus of control are more likely to resist social influence.
False. People with an external locus of control are less likely to resist social influence because they believe external factors control their outcomes.
How does an external locus of control affect resistance to conformity?
Individuals with an external locus of control are more likely to conform to social pressure because they believe that external factors, such as fate or other people, control their outcomes. They feel less empowered to make independent decisions.
How does an external locus of control affect resistance to obedience?
People with an external locus of control are less likely to resist obedience because they believe that external factors, like the authority figure or situational factors, determine their actions. This can lead to a higher level of obedience.
