Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

What is resistance to social influence ??

Answer 1

The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform the the majority or to obey authority.

Question 2

Locus of control???

Answer 2

The sense we have of what directs our lives (internal vs external).

Internal - they are mostly responsible for what happens to them

External - what happens to them is dictated by luck / other outside forces

Question 3

Evidence for resistance to social influence:

Answer 3

**Wesley Autry **

New York builder who rescued a man from subway tracks where he had fallen due to a seizure.

75 other people stood by and watched

Handed his 2 daughters to a stranger

Question 4

Does social support have an effect on resisting social influence/obedience ????

Answer 4

YES

Social influence:

Asch study - introduction of an ally within the participants caused conformity to drop from 33 - 5.5%

->an ally raises the possibility that an alternative way of thinking is legitimate (increases confidence)

Obedience:

Milgrim , variation, study - 3 individuals testing the learner with 2 confederates resisted, resulting in only **10% **of the participants going to the full shock strength

Question 5

Test for locus of control:

Answer 5

Rotter(1966)
- simple questionnaire

Question 6

Differences between internal and external locus of control :

Answer 6

Internal
- higher intellect
- leadership qualities
- self confident
- more likely to resist conformity
- blame themselves when something goes wrong

External:
- good understanding or social /world issues
- a critical mind
- better interpersonal skills

Question 7

Evaluation of resistance to conformity

Answer 7

POSITIVE:

• Allen and Levine (1971) - conformity decreased when there was one dissenter in an Asch type study (even if wearing thick glasses)
• response order Allen and Levine - participants went last, more likely to conform when the confederate with the right answer went first

resistance to obedience
Gamson et al (1983) found higher levels of resistance that milgrim

locus of control
Holland (1967) - milgrim baseline study
- measured with participants were internal or external
- **37% of internals didn’t continue **to the highest shock
HOWEVER
Twentieth et al (2004) analysed data from American LOC studies - showed over time **resistance has increased but so has external population **

Rosenstrasse protest
- woman protested against the holding of 2000 Jewish men and demanded their release (social support)

NEGATIVE:

LOC influence on resisting obedience is exaggerated