Resistance to Social Influence

Question 1

Definition of Locus of Control

Answer 1

A measurement of an individual’s sense of control over their lives

Question 2

What does it mean if someone has an internal LOC?

Answer 2

They believe behaviour is caused by their own personal decisions

Question 3

What does it mean if someone has an external LOC?

Answer 3

They believe that behaviour is caused by luck or fate

Question 4

Are people with an internal LOC more likely to be a follower or a leader?

Answer 4

A leader

Question 5

What is an example of a thought from someone who has an internal LOC?

Answer 5

“I won the award because I worked hard for it”

Question 6

What is an example of a thought from someone who has an external LOC?

Answer 6

“I won the award because it was meant to be”

Question 7

What is the definition of Social Support?

Answer 7

The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same

Question 8

In what study has there been an example of Social support?

Answer 8

In Asch’s study, by having someone who doesn’t follow the majority, it allows the naive participant to act freely

Question 9

In what study has there been an example of resisting obedience?

Answer 9

In Milgram’s study. The pressure to obey can be resisted if someone else resists.

Question 10

What is a strength for the positive effects of Social Support?

Answer 10

Real-world research support:
- Teen Fresh Start USA
- Help pregnant teens resist pressures to smoke
- Those who had an ‘older’ mentor were less likely to start smoking

Question 11

What evidence do we have to support the roles of dissenting peers in resisting obedience?

Answer 11

• Gamson told participants to produce evidence to help an oil company run a campaign
• 29/33 groups of participants rebelled orders
• Peer support can lead to disobedience

Question 12

What research evidence supports the link between LOC and resistance?

Answer 12

• Holland repeated Milgram’s study to measure whether participants were external or internal
• 37% internals didn’t continue to highest shock level
• 23% of externals didn’t continue
• Increases validity of LOC

Question 13

What evidence challenges the link between LOC and resistance?

Answer 13

• Twenge analysed data from American LOC studies over a 40 year period
• Over time, people became more disobedient but also more external
• If resistance was related to an internal LOC people would have become more internal