resistance to social influence Flashcards
resistance to social influence
refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey the authority. this ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
define social support
the presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. these people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
it can help people to resist conformity and obedience.
social support and resisting conformity
asch 1956 found that the presence of social support enables an individual to resist conformity pressure from the majority.
social support and resisting obedience.
research has shown that individuals are generally more confident in their ability to resist temptation to obey if they can find an ally who is willing to join them in opposing the authority figure.
disobedient peers therefore act as role models on which the individual can model their own behaviour
define locus of control
refers to the a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour. julian rotter (1966).
internals believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them (internal LOC)
externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (external LOC)
a strong internal LOC
what happens to them is largely a consequence of their own ability and effort; more likely to display independence in thoughts and behaviour.
they rely less on the opinion of others, SO BETTER ABLE TO RESIST SOCIAL INFLUENCE
an external locus of control
tend to approach events witha more passive and fatalistic attitude than internals, taking less personal responsibility for their actions and being less likely to display independent behaviour and more likely to accept the influence of others.
locus of control research has uncovered a number of characteristics that have relevance to resisting social influence…
- high internals are active seekers of information; less likely to rely on opinions
- high internals tend to be more achievement-oritentated and consequently more likely to become leaders rather than follow others. research found that a relationshop exists between locus of control and leadership style.
evaluation of social support
- research evidence supports the role of dissenting peers in resisting conformity.
- social support in the real world (disobedience) (dar link to germany)
evaluation of social support for conformity
research evidence supports the role of dissenting peers in resisting conformity.
allen and levine found that conformity decreased when there was one dissenter in an asch-type study. more importantly, this occured even if the dissenter wore thick glasses and said he had difficulty with vision.
enables individuals to be free of the pressure from the group, not just resistance being motivated by following what someone else says.
evaluation of social support for disobedience
social support in the real world.
milgram found that the presence of disobedient peers gave the partivipant the confidence and courage to resist the authority’s order. likewise…
evaluation of LOC
- limited role of LOC
evaluation weakness LOC
role may have been somewhat exaggerated.
rotter 1982 points out that LOC only comes into play in novel situations. it has very little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations where our previous exp will always be important.
this point is often overlooked in discussions of LOC and resistance. meaning ppl who have conformed or obeyed in specific situations in the past are likely to do it again, even if they have high internal LOC.
