Resistance to social influence

Question 1

What did Asch’s research show when this ‘non-conforming’ person starts confirming again

Answer 1

• the effect of the dissent is not long lasting and the person starts to conform with the majority again

Question 2

Who first proposed the concept of locus of control

Answer 2

• Rotter

Question 3

Define what locus of control means

Answer 3

• it is a concept concerned with internal control vs external control
• internals believe that the things that happened to them are largely controlled by themselves
• externals believe that things happen without their control

Question 4

what is continuum

Answer 4

• the idea that no one has either internal or external LOC but rather high and low levels of both

Question 5

Why may people who have a high internal LOC be able to resist social pressures to conform/obey

Answer 5

• they know they are responsible for their own actions and so they are more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs
• people with a high LOC tend to be more self-confident, more achievement-orientated, have high intelligence and have less need for social approval

Question 6

give an example of research support for the resistance of conformity

Answer 6

• Allen and Levine found that conformity decreased when there was a dissenter in an Asch-type study even when they wore thick ass glasses and said their vision was poor

Question 7

give an example of research support for the resistance of obedience

Answer 7

• Gamson et al, 29 out of 33 groups of ppts (ie, 88%) rebelled
• showing peer support is linked to greater resistance