resistance to social influence

Question 1

what is locus of control?

Answer 1

• a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour
• it’s a personality explanation measured on a scale of high internal to high external

Question 2

locus of control- what is an internal?

Answer 2

an individual who believes their life is determined by their own decisions + efforts

Question 3

locus of control- what is an external?

Answer 3

individual who believes their life is determined by fate, luck and external factors

Question 4

locus of control- characteristics of a internal

Answer 4

high level of personal control over their lives + behaviour. Take personality responsibility for it

Question 5

locus of control- how do internals relate to social influence?

Answer 5

high internals= actively seek out info. which will help them personally + are less likely to rely on others. They are more achievement orientated + can resist pressure from others.

Question 6

locus of control- characteristics of a external

Answer 6

• belief that life is determined by external/environmental factors

Question 7

locus of control- how do externals relate to social influence?

Answer 7

• high externals= more likely to be influence by others as they don’t believe they exercise personal control over their lives.

Question 8

locus of control- who came up with it?

Answer 8

Rotter

Question 9

locus of control- who provides supporting evidence?

Answer 9

• Holland
• Allen + Levine

Question 10

locus of control- supporting evidence- Holland

Answer 10

• repeated Milgram’s experiment + 37% of internals didn’t go up to 450V + resisted
  meanwhile only 23% of externals resisted
• therefore internals showed greater resistance to authority
• research evidence to show link between LOC and resistance to obedience

Question 11

locus of control- supporting evidence- Allen + Levine

Answer 11

• did an Asch type task with a dissenter with apparent good eyesight –> 64% of genuine ppts refused to conform vs with no support at all only 3% resisted
  BUT when dissenter had obvious poor eyesight (wore thick glasses) resistance was only 36%
• one dissenter= independence increased
  resistance as someone can be free from social pressure

Question 12

locus of control- supporting evidence- real world

Answer 12

women protested on Berlin when Gestapo (Nazi secret police) held 2000 Jewish men

Question 13

locus of control- who provides contradictory evidence?

Answer 13

twenge et al

Question 14

locus of control- contradictory evidence- Twenge et al

Answer 14

analysed data from American obedience studies over 40 year period which suggested people have become more resistant to obedience but more external over time
–> this suggests LOC and resistance aren’t linked
–> but results ma be due to changing society etc

Question 15

locus of control- strengths

Answer 15

• has filler questions
• research support

Question 16

locus of control- weaknesses

Answer 16

• role of LOC= exaggerated
• Rotter et al found LOC is only important in new situations + has little influence on familiar situations where previous experiences are more important –> LOC only explains limited situations where people might resist to social influence –> LOC isn’t an important factor in resistance
• theory doesn’t apply all social influence
• peoples findings may have variable affecting findings + conclusions
• environmental factors, not just personality
• questionnaire= closed questions

Question 17

what is social support?

Answer 17

• where the presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same
  –> people act as models to show others that resistance is possible

Question 18

where is social support shown?

Answer 18

• Asch study- dissenter present conformity dropped
• Milgram study- obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when teacher was joined by another disobedient confederate

Question 19

social support strengths?

Answer 19

• Allen +Levine prove social support reduces conformity even when from someone with limited credibility they are more likely to resist social pressure –> they did repeat of Asch experiment + dissenter wore thick glasses + had vision issues
• can be applied to many situations
• when feel supported= empowers them to act to their beliefs
• helps us understand majority groups can resist minority influence

Question 20

social support weaknesses?

Answer 20

• effect of social support on resistance may not be equal to all individuals –> influence by environment, culture, personality, background etc
• person who acts as a dissenter may seem unreliable
• internal factors e.g. self-confidence etc effect conformity
• presence of social support may only have short-term effects e.g. if person/dissenter left then other person may return to conformity