Resisting Social Influence

Question 1

Resisting Conformity

Answer 1

The pressure of conformity can be reduced if there is a dissenter.
A dissenter is someone who acts as an ally to help participants follow their own conscience.
They provide a form of Social Support
In Asch’s study, the dissenter had to simply have to resist the majority

Question 2

Evaluation of Resistance to Conformity

Answer 2

Strength:
Evidence for this explanation comes from one of Asch’s (1951) variations. In one of the variations, one of the confederates was instructed to give the correct answer throughout. In this variation, the rate of conformity dropped to 5%. This demonstrates that if the real participant has support for their belief (social support), then they are likely more likely to resist the pressure to conform.

Question 3

Resisting Obedience

Answer 3

The pressure to obey can be reduced if there another person who is seen to disobey.
In one of Milgram’s variations, the rate of obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the genuine participant was joined by a disobedient confederate.
Participants use the act of disobedience as a model

Question 4

Evaluation of Resistance to Obedience

Answer 4

Strength:
Evidence for this explanation comes from Milgram (1974). In one of Milgram’s variations, the real participant was paired with 2 additional confederates, who also played the role of teachers. In this variation, the two additional confederates refused to go on and withdrew from the experiment early. In this variation, the percentage of real participants who proceeded to the full 450 volts, dropped from 65% to 10%. This shows that if the real participant has support for their desire to disobey, then they are more likely to resist the pressure of an authority figure.

Question 5

What is Locus of Control (LOC)?

Answer 5

The extent to which people believe they are in control of their lives

Can explain why people resist conformity and obedience

Question 6

What are the types of LOC?

Answer 6

• External LOC

- Internal LOC

Question 7

What is High Internal LOC?

Answer 7

Individuals believe they are in control and the outcome of situations are based on their own decisions

They are more likely to resist Social Influence

Question 8

What is High External LOC?

Answer 8

Individuals believe they have no control over the outcome of a situation.

Luck and fate control their lives

They are less likely to resist Social Influence

Question 9

Evaluate LOC

Answer 9

Weakness:
Personality is too complex to be measured by multiple-choice questions. The options given are limited and participants may want to elaborate on their answer but can’t due to the limitation of the answers
Therefore, you cant measure LOC with a multiple choice question because it lacks insight