P1 Social Influence: Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

What is resistance to social influence?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What was the overall conformity rate in Asch’s study?

Answer 2

The overall conformity rate was 32%.

Question 3

What percentage of participants in Asch’s study resisted conformity on every critical trial?

Answer 3

25% of participants resisted conformity on every critical trial.

Question 4

What was the overall obedience rate in Milgram’s study?

Answer 4

The overall obedience rate was 65%.

Question 5

What percentage of participants in Milgram’s study resisted obedience by refusing to deliver the full 450V shock?

Answer 5

35% of participants resisted obedience by refusing to deliver the full 450V shock.

Question 6

What are the two main explanations for resistance to social influence?

Answer 6

The two main explanations are Social Support (a situational explanation) and Locus of Control (a dispositional explanation).

Question 7

What is social support in the context of resistance to social influence?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

How does social support influence conformity?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

How does social support influence obedience?

Answer 9

A disobedient role model challenges the authority figure’s legitimacy, which increases the likelihood that others will resist obeying the authority’s commands.

Question 10

What is the role of diffusion of responsibility in social support?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: Social support helps to counter feelings of ___ and ___, which strengthens an individual’s ability to resist social influence.

Answer 11

isolation and vulnerability

Question 12

True or False: Social support is only effective if multiple people are dissenting or disobeying.

Answer 12

False. Even a single person dissenting can be enough to reduce pressure on others.

Question 13

How does social support help resist obedience?

Answer 13

• 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.

Question 14

How does social support help resist conformity?

Answer 14

• 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.

Question 15

Why is social support an incomplete explanation for resistance?

Answer 15

• 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.

Question 16

What is locus of control in psychology?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What is locus of control in psychology?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

What does an internal locus of control mean?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

What does an external locus of control mean?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

How does an internal locus of control affect resistance to conformity?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

How does an internal locus of control affect resistance to obedience?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

True or False: People with an external locus of control are more likely to resist social influence.

Answer 22

False. People with an external locus of control are less likely to resist social influence because they believe external factors control their outcomes.

Question 23

How does an external locus of control affect resistance to conformity?

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

How does an external locus of control affect resistance to obedience?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

True or False: People with an internal locus of control tend to take more responsibility for their actions.

Answer 25

True. People with an internal locus of control are more likely to take responsibility for their actions, believing that their success or failure is a result of their own efforts.

Question 26

Fill in the blank: Individuals with an __________ locus of control tend to feel that their outcomes are controlled by external forces like fate, luck, or powerful others.

Answer 26

External

Question 27

How does locus of control influence personal responsibility?

Answer 27

People with an internal locus of control take responsibility for their actions and outcomes. They believe that their efforts influence their success or failure, whereas people with an external locus of control attribute outcomes to external factors.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: An individual with an __________ locus of control is less likely to resist obedience because they believe external factors control their outcomes.

Answer 28

External

Question 29

How does locus of control affect an individual’s resistance to authority figures?

Answer 29

People with an internal locus of control are more likely to question and resist authority figures because they feel responsible for their own actions and believe in their personal agency. Those with an external locus of control are less likely to resist authority, as they attribute their actions to external influences.

Question 30

True or False: People with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist obedience when orders conflict with their values.

Answer 30

True. People with an internal locus of control are more likely to defy authority if they believe the orders violate their personal values or moral beliefs.