Resistance to Social Influence Flashcards
what are the two factors that can lead resistance to social influence?
- locus of control
- social support
what is meant by locus of control?
the extent to which individuals believe that they can control the events affecting them
- it is a continuum
what is the scale called that measures LoC?
Rotter Scale
what type of LoC is a low score out of 8 on the Rotter scale?
internal LoC
what type of LoC is a high score out of 8 on the Rotter scale?
external LoC
what are the characteristics of an internal LoC?
- believe they have control over life and future
- greater self-confidence/ leadership abilities
what are the characteristics of an external LoC?
- luck and fate control future
- everything is out of their control
what type of LoC is more likely to resist pressures to conform?
internal LoC
what type of LoC is more likely to obey?
external LoC
what is social support?
the presence of people who resist pressures to conform can help others to do the same
- e.g. an ally or disobedient role model
what type of LoC resists pressure to conform or obey?
high internal LoC
why do people with a high internal LoC resist pressure to conform?
- they take personal responsibility
- more self confident
- more achievement-orientated
- higher intelligence
- characteristics of leaders
what is resistance to social influence?
- refers to the ability of people to withstand social pressure to conform to the majority or obey the authority
what are the evaluations for social support?
+ research evidence for the positive effects of social support
+ research support for the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience
what are the evaluations for locus of control?
+ research evidence for link between LoC and resistance to obedience
- evidence challenges the link between LoC and obedience
