Resistance to social influence

Question 1

Define resistance to social influence

Answer 1

The ability to withstand social pressure from the majority to conform or obey; influenced by both dispositional and situational factors

Question 2

Define social support

Answer 2

the presence of those who can help others resist social influence; they act as models showing resistance is possible

Question 3

Define locus of control

Answer 3

refers to the sense we have about how much control we have over our lives. Internals believe they can influence the future, whilst externals believe it’s up to fate.

Question 4

Social support + conformity

Answer 4

Social support helps ppl resist conformity, as long as someone else displays rejection to conformity- right or wrong. E.g: asch’s experiment- conformity dropped to 5% w social support

Question 5

Social support + Obedience

Answer 5

Helps resist obedience., pressure of obeying reduced if someone else disobeying.E.g, milgram variation: obedience dropped from 65 to 10% when p was joined by disobeying confed. Confed challenges legitimacy of authority; easier for others to disobey.

Question 6

Strength: real world evidence to back social support

Answer 6

Allen and Levine (1971)
found in asche experiment, dissenter’s presence caused 64% of Ps not to confirm. When no dissenters- only 3% resist. Strength as peer support is clearly linked to resistance to authority.

Question 7

Strength: research to support link between LOC and obedience

Answer 7

Milgram experiment
23% of external LOC refused to continue, contrary to 37% with internal LOC. Strength: shows LOC may have an impact on obedience, increased validity.

Question 8

Weakness: contradictory research, not all research supports link between obedience and LOC

Answer 8

Twenge et al (2004)
Meta analysis, people are now less obedient despite having more of an external LOC.