resistance to social influence Flashcards
What does resistance to social influence mean?
Withstanding the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority
What is Locus of Control (LOC)?
Rotter (1966) proposed concept concerned with internal vs external
Internal LOC more likely to resist pressure to conform or obey - Take personal responsibility for actions; base decisions on their own beliefs
External LOC believe things turn out a certain way regardless of their actions - More self-confident, achievement-oriented, higher intelligence, less need for social approval - not a nAffiliator
LOC research support
Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s study and measured whether PPs internal or external - 37% of internals didn’t continue to highest shock level - showed independence (increases validity of Rotters expl)
Twenge at al (2004) analysed data from American obedience studies over 40 year period (1960-2002) - People have become more resistant to obedience but more external
If resistance was linked to an internal LOC we expect people to become more internal (Challenges validity of LOC explanation of resistance)
Rotter et al (1982) found LOC only important in new situations - LOC can explain only a limited range of situations in which people might resist social influence
What is social support?
When there are others in social situations that defy attempts to make them obey or conform, it’s much easier for an individual to also resist
Asch - dissenter introduced, conformity dcereased
Milgram - two confederates joining PP and refusing to continue - impacted obedience
