Resistance To SI + Social Change Flashcards
Resistance to social influence refers to
The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey the authority figure
Resistance to social influence
Explanation 1. Locus of control
Locus of control refers to a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour
measured on a scale of high internal to high external
Internal locus of control
High level of control over their lives and behaviour
They take responsibility for it
More able to resist social influence
External locus of control
Belief that life is determined by external factors eg fate
More likely to be influenced by others as they don’t believe they exercise personal control over their lives
Less likely to resist social influence
Strength of locus of control
Supportive research
P: supportive research
E: a study that replicated Milgrams electric shock study also assessed LOC in their Ps. 37% of internals refused to continue to 350V but only 23% of externals refused
C: it supports Rotter’s research as more internals refused
Limitation of locus of control
Temporal validity
P: the research may lack temporal validity: the findings can’t be generalised to different times
E: research has recently found that more people report having an external LOC but they are more able to resist social influence
C: it contradicts Rotter’s original work as externals are resisting social influence. His research also can’t be generalised to modern day
Limitation of LOC
questionnaire
P: it uses a questionnaire
E: participants could display social desirability. They could change their answers to fit in.
C: lowers validity of results. Questionnaire may not have measured LOC correctly
Resistance to social influence
Explanation 2. Social support
The presence of others who also resist pressures to obey can help others do the same.
These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible
Social support: conformity
Unanimity in Asch’s research helped people to resist conformity
He added a dissenter that agreed with naive participant. Conformity levels then dropped
Naive participant had less pressure as he wasn’t the only one disagreeing with confederates
Social support
Allen + Levine
They also found the same as Asch – in the presence of just one dissenter conformity decreased. This was even more shocking as in the study the dissenter war thick glasses and stated he couldn’t see the lines clearly
this shows how the dissenter eased pressures to conform allowing people to resist social influence.
Social support: obedience
Milgram conducted a variation in which he had a disobedient confederate in the room with the naive participant. The disobedient confederate refused to follow orders of experimenter
Obedience for naive P fell from 65% to 10%
It increased resistance to obedience because the P felt less pressure as there was someone else refusing
Social support
Further evidence: Gamson et al
Gamson found higher levels of resistance to obedience because they were in groups and peer support is linked to greater resistance
88% of Ps rebelled and disobeyed authority due to addition of other disobedient confederates
Strength of social support
Supportive research
P: supportive research
E: Gamson found higher levels of resistance to obedience because they were in groups. 88% of Ps disobeyed authority due to addition of disobedient confederates
C: makes explanation more reliable as different studies have all found consistent findings to show that social support helps people resist social influence
Minority influence
Minority persuades others to adopt their beliefs attitudes and behaviours
Leads to internalisation
Main process of minority influence
- Consistency - same view over long period of time. People need to be synchronic
- Commitment- dedication to their cause and makes personal sacrifices
- Flexibility - wiling to accept + consider counter arguments. Less of putting for majority
Minority influence
Moscovici’s study
Lab experiments
Ps we’re in a group were there were 2 confederates and 4 Ps
Everyone was shows 36 blue slides, each with a different shade of blue
Asked whether slide was blue or green
Confederates said green on 2/3s of trials
Number of times Ps said green was observed
Moscovivi’s findings
Consistent minority caused 8% of Ps to say green
Inconsistent minority caused 1% of Ps to say green
Strength of minority influence
Lab setting
P: research conducted in lab setting; Moscovivi’s study
E: high control of EVs. Standardised procedures eg using same 36 slides
C: can establish C+E relationship eg inconsistent minority decreased influence on majority. Standardised procedures makes study reliable
Strength of minority influence
P: supportive studies
E: results from meta analysis: combination of studies studying MI found that consistent minorities were most effective
C: highlights that consistency is a major factor in MI, supportive psychological theories regarding MI
Limitation of minority influence
Lab setting
P: conducted in a laboratory setting eg Moscovici
E: artificial environment so it’s highly controlled
C: lacks ecological validity so findings can’t be generalised to a real life environment. Doesn’t tell us much about MI in real life
Limitation of minority influence
Sample
P: research eg Moscovici used an all female sample
E: the sample is gynocentric so it doesn’t tell us about MI in men. So can’t generalise findings to men
C: creates beta bias so we don’t know if men would be influenced in the same way
Social change
When a society adopts a new way of behaving which then becomes widely accepted as the norm
Always starts with a minority
Conditions necessary for social change
- Drawing attention to the issue
- Role of cognitive conflict
- Consistency
- Augmentation principle
- Snowball effect
Drawing attention to the issue
If we are exposed to the views of a minority then this draws our attention
Role of cognitive conflict
As a result of the conflict we examine the minorities arguments closely. We think more deeply about the meaning of it
Consistency
Minorities are more influential when fighting for social change if they are consistent.
They express their argument over a long period of time
The augmentation principle
If there are risks involved in putting forward an argument then whose who express those views are taken more seriously
The snowball effect
Over time people will switch views from majority to minority
The more this happens the faster social change as the minority view becomes majority view and thus social change has occurred
Limitation of social change
P: not all attempts of social change result in change even though all 5 factors have occurred
E: certain movements eg environmental issues have negative connotations eg tree huggers that people don’t want to be associated with even though they agree with their views
C: it doesn’t explain why this occurs contradicting the theory of social change
Strength of social change
Real life application
P: real life application
E: the suffragettes drew attention to the issue by organising numerous campaigns eg window smashing. Cognitive conflict was that they thought women should have right to vote. Augmentation principle is that Emily Davison killed after she stepped in front of kings horse. Snowball effect was in 1928 women over 18 had right to vote
C: increases understanding of social change
