Resistance to Social Influence

Question 1

What is Independent Behaviour

Answer 1

The ability to resist pressure to conform to a majority, or resisting pressure to obey orders given by authority figures.

Question 2

Social Support

Answer 2

1) Conformity:
–> social support can help resist conformity
–> pressure to conform reduces when ppl who aren’t conforming are present (presence of allies) - e.g. Asch’s study - if the dissenting peer, who acts as a ‘model’, conforms again so does the pp.

2) Obedience:
–> pressure to obey reduces if another who disobeys is present.
–> Milgram’s variation - obedience rate reduced from 65% to 10% when disobedient con appeared - confederate acts as a ‘model’ for pp.
–> Pps may not follow dissenting peers but their disobedience frees the pp to act from their own conscience.
–> disobedient model challenges legitimacy of the authority figure.

Question 3

Locus of Control

Answer 3

LoC - A person’s perception of personal control over their own behaviour - measured along dimension of ‘high internal’ to ‘high external’.

Question 4

Internal & External LoC

Answer 4

Rotter described internal vs external LoC.

1) Internal LoC - have personal control over their behaviour so likely to take personal responsibility, control their own lives, e.g. do well in exam is cause you worked hard.

2) External LoC - believe things happen without their own control / caused by external influences or luck, e.g. do well in exam thanks to good textbook / wrong place at wrong time.

3) Internal LoC more likely to resist pressure to obey/conform. –> more self-confident, more achievement-oriented, higher intelligence & less need for social approval.

Question 5

Research Support - LoC & SS

Answer 5

1) LoC - Holland repeated Milgram’s baseline study & measured whether pps were internal or external.
–> 37% of internals didn’t continue to highest shock level - 23% of externals didn’t continue —> increases validity of explanation.

2) Social Support (Obedience) - Milgram’s Variation - presence of allies dropped rate of conformity from 65% to 10% - dissenting peer acts as a ‘model’.

Question 6

Limitation of LoC

Answer 6

NOT ALL RESEARCH SUPPORTS ROLE OF LOC

1) Twenge et al. analysed data from American LoC studies over 40 years, showing ppl have become more independent but also more external.
2) This is surprising, if resistance was linked to internal LOC we would expect ppl to have become more internal.
—> SO LOC may not be a valid explanation of resistance to social influence.