Resistance to social influence

Question 1

Locus of control (Rotter 1966)

Answer 1

The locus of control is a measurement of an individual’s sense of control over their lives, i.e to what extent they feel that events in their lives are under their own personal control, versus under the control of other external powers like fate.

Question 2

Internality

Answer 2

Individuals tend to believe that they are responsible for their behaviour and experience rather than external force.

Question 3

Externality

Answer 3

Individuals who tend to believe that they are responsible for their behaviour and experience caused by events outside their control

Question 4

Social Support (AO1)

Answer 4

The presence of others can help us resist conforming or obeying

Question 5

Spector (1983) Locus of control

Answer 5

Measured locus of control and predisposition to normative and informational influence in 157 undergraduate students.

• Found a correlation between locus of control and predisposition to normative social influence, with externals more likely to conform to this form of influence than internals.
• found no relationship

Question 6

Asch (1956) Social support in reducing the social influence

AO3

Answer 6

One of the confederates was instructed to give the correct answer throughout. In this variation, the rate of conformity dropped to 5.5%. This demonstrates that if the real participant has to support for their belief (Socia support), then they are more likely to resist the pressure to conform

Question 7

Internal locus of control

Answer 7

Individuals believe that their behaviour is not influenced by events outside their control

Question 8

Spector (1983) AO3 supporting locus of control

Answer 8

Used Rotter’s locus of control scale to determine whether the locus of control is associated with conformity. From 157 students, Spector found individuals with a high internal locus of control, but only in situations of normative social influence, where individuals conform to be accepted. There was no difference between the groups of information social influence. This suggests that normative social influence, the desire to fit in, is more powerful than informational social influence.

Question 9

AO2 Jack p.2

Answer 9

This shows that Jack’s opinion is correct to a certain extent as a ‘Confident personality’ someone who has an internal locus of control is resistant to social influence in situations of normative social influence.

However, is not entirely correct when it comes to Informational social influence where a person conforms to being correct.

Question 10

Rees and Wallace (2015)

Answer 10

Conducted a study that showed that social support provided by friend help adolescents resist conformity pressures from the majority.

Question 11

What was the procedure of Rees and Wallaces (2015) study?

Answer 11

Individuals with a majority of friends who drank alcohol were significantly more likely to be engaged in drunkness and binge drink over the previous 12 months.

However, they found that individuals were able to resist the pressures to drink alcohol when a friend resisted.

Question 12

Sarah Social support (AO2)

Answer 12

Sarah’s statement relates to social support - the idea that people resist social influence if they have someone who supports their point of view.

It is stated that an ally can help back up their view which enables the individual to be more confident and breaks group unanimity of the group

Question 13

Sarah Social support (AO2) Pt.2

Answer 13

This shows that Sarah’s view that ‘resistance to social influence depends on the pressure of others’ is supported research, however, rees and Wallaces study shows that the pressure to conform decreases when another member of the group resists.