Resistance to social influence

Question 1

What is resistance to social influence?

Answer 1

The ability of people withstand social pressure to conform or obey

Question 2

What is social support?

Answer 2

The presence of a dissenter can encourage others to do the same

Question 3

What is locus of control?

Answer 3

Refers to the sense we have about what directs events in our lives

Question 4

How does Asch’s study demonstrate resisting conformity?

Answer 4

The presence of a dissenting confederate enables naive participant to be free to follow their own conscience

Question 5

How does Milgram’s study demonstrate resisting obedience?

Answer 5

Rate of obedience fell from 65% to 10% when the genuine participant was joined by a disobedient confederate

Question 6

Who introduced the concept of Locus of Control (LOC)

Answer 6

Rotter (1966)

Question 7

What are the two types of LOCs?

Answer 7

• Internals
• Externals

Question 8

What do internals believe?

Answer 8

Things that happen to them are largely controlled by themselves

Question 9

What do externals believe?

Answer 9

Things that happen are outside of their control

Question 10

What is the LOC continuum?

Answer 10

A scale- high external on one end, high internal on the other

Question 11

STRENGTH-
I- Real world research support

Social support

Answer 11

D- Albrecht et al- evaluated Teen Fresh Start USA (programme to help pregnant teens resist pressure to smoke). Social support was provided by an older buddy. Teens with a buddy were less likely to smoke than a control group
E- Shows social support helps young people resist social influence

Question 12

STRENGTH-
I- Research support for dissenting peers

Social support

Answer 12

D- Gamson et al’s participants were told to produce evdience that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign. Found higher levels of resistance in study than in Milgram’s study. Groups could discuss- social support. 29/33 rebelled
E- Shows peer support can lead to disobedience by undermining legitimacy of an authority figure

Question 13

What are the strengths for social support?

Answer 13

• Real world explanation
• Research support

Question 14

STRENGTH-
I- Research support

Locus of control

Answer 14

D- Holland repeated Milgram’s baseline study and measured whether participants were internals or externals. 37% of internals did not continue vs 23% of externals
E- Shows resistance is related to LOC- increased validity

Question 15

LIMITATION-
I- Contradictory research

Locus on control

Answer 15

D- Twenge et al analysed data from American LOC studies over a 40 year period. Data showed that over time, people became more resistant, but also more external- suprising outcome
E- Suggests LOC is an invalid explanation

Question 16

Is higher resistance associated with internals or externals?

Answer 16

Internals