Resistance to Social Influence (AO1)

Question 1

What are the 2 types of Resistance to Social Influence?

Answer 1

Locus of Control
Social Support

Question 2

What is Locus of Control?

Answer 2

• Rotter proposed a theory of Locus of Control, which is the degree to which people believe that they have control over their lives
• it’s measured on a continuum from high Internal LofC to high External LofC

Question 3

Locus of Control: Internal

Answer 3

• believe that things happen to you are controlled by you; you can control the outcome of situations
• more independent thoughts + behaviour
• less likely to rely on others’ opinions
• lead rather than follow
• able to resist coercion from others

Question 4

Locus of Control: External

Answer 4

• believe in fate + things that happen to you are out of your control, it is all due to external forces
• less individual thoughts + behaviours
• more likely to rely on others’ opinions
• follow rather than lead
• less able to resist coercion from others

Question 5

Locus of Control: Resisting Social Influence

Answer 5

• people with an Internal LofC are MORE likely to resist social influence
• they take personal responsibility for their actions + therefore are more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs + resist pressures from others
• also tend to be more self-confident, more achievement-oreinetated + less need for social approval
  = greater resistance of social influence

Question 6

What is Social Support?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Social Support: Conformity

Answer 7

• Asch study variation conformity reduced to a 1/4 of what it was when the confederates were unanimous
• the presence of a dissenter enables the naive ppt to feel more confident + act independently

Question 8

Social Support: Obedience

Answer 8

• Milgram study variation naive ppts were working in pairs as teachers, partner was a confederate
• confederate would disobey the experimenter’s instructions + refuse to take part
• in this variation the no. of ppts who went all the way to 450V drops from 65% in the original to just 10%

Question 9

Locus of Control: Resisting Social Influence

Answer 9

• disobedient models or people resisting conformity give others the confidence needed to do the same
• they act as role models, and it becomes easier for other people to then follow and resist social influence as well