Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

Define resistance to social influence

Answer 1

Ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority

Question 2

Define social support

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Define locus of control

Answer 3

Internals believe they are responsible for what happens to them. Externals believe it is outside forces.

Question 4

if the ‘non-conforming’ peer starts conforming again, what effect does it have on the native ptp?

Answer 4

the effect isn’t lomg lasting therefore if the one starts conforming, the other will also start conforming

Question 5

How did we see a change in obedience from milgrams research when there was a disobedient confederate

Answer 5

when there was a disobedient confederate, the rate of obedience dropped from 65% to 10%

Question 6

who does the disobedient model challenge

Answer 6

challenges the legitimacy of authority and makes it easier for others to disobey

Question 7

what does the dissenters disobedience allow for the ptps

Answer 7

The participant may not follow the disobedient peer but the dissenters obedience frees the participant to act from their own experience

Question 8

what is internal locus of control

Answer 8

place control with themselves eg. if you did well in an exam its because you worked hard, vice versa

Question 9

what is external locus of control

Answer 9

place control outside themselves eg. if they did well in an exam it was because they used a good textbook or the exam was made easy

Question 10

how does internal loc relate to social influence

Answer 10

High internals actively seek out information which will help them personally and are less likely to rely on others.
They are more achievement oriented. They can resist pressure from others

Question 11

how does external loc relate to social influence

Answer 11

High externals are more likely to be influenced by others as they don’t believe they exercise personal control over their lives.

Question 12

what is the LOC continuum

Answer 12

People differ in how they explain successes and failures but it isn’t simply about being internal or external.
High internal at one end and high external at the other.
Low internal and low external lie in between.

Question 13

do externals or internals show greater resistance to social influence

Answer 13

internals

Question 14

why do Internals show greater resistance to social influence

Answer 14

because they are more self-confident, achievement oriented, higher intelligence and less need for social approval. These personality traits lead to greater resistance

Question 15

What’s re the 2 strengths of resistance to social influence

Answer 15

.real world application
.research support

Question 16

What is the real world application of resistance to social influence

Answer 16

The The ‘Rosenstrasse Protest’ or ‘the suffregate movement’ can be used to show how despite the social pressure they faced to conform and obey, they still ignored the threats and violence and stood up for what they believed and wanted and since they were in presence of other disobedient people they were able to freely act and disobey

Question 17

What is the strength of there being research support for the resistance of social influence

Answer 17

● Allen and Levine (1971) found independence increased with one dissenter in an Asch-type study.
● Even if the dissenter wore thick glasses and said he had problems with his vision.
● Resistance is not motivated by following what someone else says but it enables someone to be free of the pressure from the group

Question 18

What are the 2 limitations of resistance of social influence

Answer 18

.contradictory research
.role of LOC may be exaggerated

Question 19

What is the limitation of contradictory research with resistance of social influence

Answer 19

.Data from an American obedience study showed that, over this time span, people have become more resistant to obedience but more external.
● If resistance were linked to an internal LOC then we would expect people to have become more internal.
● This challenges the link between internal LOC and resistance. However, the results may be due to a changing society where many things are increasingly outside personal control

Question 20

What is the limitation of how the role of the LOC may be exaggerated for the resistance of social influence

Answer 20

● Rotter et al (1982) found LOC is only important in new situations – it has little influence in familiar situations where previous experiences are always more important.
● This is often overlooked. It means people who have conformed or obeyed in specific situations in the past are likely to do so again, even if they have a high internal LOC.
● This is a limitations because it means that LOC is only helpful in explaining a narrow range of new situations.