resistance to social influence Flashcards
social support
one way in which people can resist the pressure to conform or obey is it they have an ally, someone’s supporting their point of view. Having an ally can build confidence and allow individuals to remain independent
resisting conformity
social support can help people to resist conformity
pressure to conform can be reduced if there are other people present who are not conforming
person not comformibg doesn’t have to be giving the right answer but simply the majority appears to enable a person to be free to follow their own conscience
other person acts as a model
resisting obedience
social support can also help people to resist obedience. the pressure to obey can be reduced if there is another person who is seen to disobey. In one of Milgrams variations the rate of obiedence dropped from 65% to 10%
locus of control
refers to a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour is measured along a continuum of high internal to high external
internal LOC
People belive that what happens to them is largely the result of their own behaviour and that they have control over their life
external LOC
people believe that what happens to them is controlled by external factors and that they do not have complete control over their life
resistance to social infleunce
if a person takes personal responsibility for their actions and experiences then they are more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs rather than depending on the opinions of others and this resist pressure from others
strength-research support for the role of the dissenter in resisting obedience
Hanson et al found higher levels of resistance in their study in milgrams. This was probably because participants in Gamsons study were in groups. This study the participants had to produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign
strength-research support for the link between LOC and resistance to obedience
Holland repeated Milgrams study and measures whether participants were internals or externals. results showed that 37% of internals did not continue to the highest shock level and only 23% of externals did not continue
weakness-contradictory research
Teenage et al analysed data from American obedience studies over a 40 year period
weakness-role of LOC may be exaggerated
Rotted et al found LOC is only important in new situations-it has little influence in familiar situations where precisions experiences are always more important
