Resisting Social Influence

Question 1

Explain social support as an explanation for resisting conformity

Answer 1

Pressure to conform reduced
If they have support it can build confidence & allow individuals to remain independent
If they have support, no longer fear being ridiculed, allowing them to avoid NSI
However, Asch’s research showed if ‘non-conforming’ person starts conforming again, so does naive participant - effect of dissent not long lasting

Question 2

Explain locus of control as an explanation for resisting conformity

Answer 2

People with internal locus of control believe things that happen to them largely controlled by themselves, e.g. don’t do well in exam bc you didn’t work hard
People with external locus of control believe things happen without their own control, e.g. failed exam bc of bad luck

Question 3

Explain social support as an explanation for resisting obedience

Answer 3

Pressure to disobey reduced if another person seen to disobey
In one of Milgram’s variations, rate of obedience dropped from 65%-10% when genuine parti joined by confederate
Participant may not follow disobedient person’s behaviour but point is other person’s disobedience acts as ‘model’ for participant to copy that frees him to act from own conscience

Question 4

Explain locus of control as an explanation for resisting social influence

Answer 4

People who have high internal LOC more likely to be able to resist pressures to conform/obey
They take personal responsibility for actions & experiences, thus, more likely to base decisions on own beliefs & resist pressure from others

People with high internal LOC more self-confident achievement-orientated, intelligent & less need for social approval

Question 5

Evaluate social support as an explanation for resisting conformity

Answer 5

Strength - research support - evidence supports role of dissenting peers in revisiting conformity
E.g. - Allen & Levine (1971) found conformity decreased when there’s 1 dissenter in Asch-type study
Ex. - supports view resistance not juts motivated by following what someone else says but enables someone to be free of pressure from group

Question 6

Evaluate social support as an explanation for resisting obedience

Answer 6

Strength - research support: evidence supports role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience
E.g. - Gamson et al. (1982) found higher levels of resistance in their study than Milgram
Ex. - In Gamson’s study, 29/33 groups of participants (88%) rebelled. Shows peer support linked to greater resistance

Question 7

Evaluate Locus of Control as an explanation for resisting social influence

Answer 7

Strength - research support: evidence supports link between LOC & resistance to obedience
E.g. - Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s baseline study & measured whether parties were internal or externals. He found 37% of internals didn’t continue to 450V. 23% of externals didn’t continue
Ex. - supports LOC as internals showed greater resistance to authority & increases validity fo LOC explanation & our confidence it can explain resistance

Limitation - contradictory research: not all research supports link between LOC & resistance
E.g. - Twenge et al. (2004) analysed data from American obedience studies from 1960-2002. Data showed that people become more resistant to obedience but also more external. If resistance linked to internal locus of control, we would expect people to have become more internal
Ex. - challenges link between internal LOC & increasing resistant behaviour. However, possible results due to changing society where many things out of personal control