Resistance to Social Influence Flashcards
How can social support help in resisting conformity?
The pressure to conform can be resisted if there are other non-conformers present. The fact someone else is not following the majority is social support, enabling the participant to follow their own conscience, following the model of independent behaviour.
How can social support help in resisting obedience?
If another person disobeyed, only 10% gave 450 volts. The participant may not follow the same behaviour but the other persons disobedience acts as a model of dissent. This model challenges the legitimacy of the authority figure, making it easier for others to obey.
What is Rotter’s Locus of Control theory?
Some people have an internal LOC - believing the things that happen to them are self-controlled.
Some people have an external LOC - believing the things that happen to them are befog their control.
How is the LOC a continuum?
It is a scale and individuals vary in their position - high internal at one end and high external at the other.
How does a high internal LOC link to resistance to social influence?
They are able to resist pressure to conform or obey - if a person takes personal responsibility then they tend to base decisions on their own beliefs rather than depending on the opinions of others. Another explanation is that people with a high internal LOC are self-confident, achievement-oriented and with higher intelligence.
What is the strength of social support - real-world support?
Albrecht evaluated Teen Fresh Start USA, an 8-week programme to help pregnant adolescents resist peer pressure to smoke. The adolescents who had a ‘buddy’ to help were significantly less likely to smoke than a control group who did not have a buddy.
What is the strength of social support - research support for dissenting peers?
Gamson’s participants were told t produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign. They found higher levels of resistance as the participants were in groups so could discuss and rebel. 29/33 disobeyed.
What is the strength of LOC - research support?
Holland replicated Milgrams study and measured whether participants were internal or external - 37% of internal disobeyed but only 23% of eternals didn’t continue. Internals showed greater resistance to authority.
What is the limitation of LOC - contradictory evidence?
Twenge analysed 40 years of LOC studies and found that people became more resistant to obedience but also more external - disagreeing with the traditional concept that if resistance is linked to an internal LOC we would expect people to be more internal.
