Resistance To Social Influence

Question 1

Social support

Answer 1

Conformity reduces if a peer dissents (Asch) because they act as a model.

Effect is temporary - naive participant conforms again if the dissenter conforms.

Obedience reduces if one dissenter (milgram study 65% down to 10%

Question 2

Locus of control (LoC)

Answer 2

Internals place control within themselves, externals place it outside.

There is a continuum from high internal -> low internal -> low external -> high external

Internals can resist social influence, more confident, less need for approval.

Question 3

Social support research support

Answer 3

Conformity reduced when one dissenter (Allan and Levine)

Participants less obedient with support (Gamson et al.)

Question 4

LoC research support

Answer 4

More externals continued to highest shock (Holland)

Question 5

• points for LoC

Answer 5

Contradictory research - people now more independent but also more externals. (Twenge et al.)

LoC exaggerated - only influential in new situations, so limited (Rotter)