Social Influence L10

Question 1

What is an external (situational) factor of resistance to social pressure?

Answer 1

Social support
- This is when there are other people present who are also resisting the pressure to conform or obey

Question 2

What is an internal (dispositional e.g: personality) factor of resistance to social pressure?

Answer 2

Locus of control

Question 3

Explain social support as an explanation of resistance to social influence

Answer 3

• People can resist the pressure to conform or obey if they have an ally as it can help build confidence and allow individuals to remain independent
• If people have support for their point of view, they will no longer fear being ridiculed, allowing them to avoid normative social influence (NSI)
• They are also less likely to obey orders and feel better able to resist the pressure if there is another person present who also does not obey

Question 4

How does social support affect conformity?

Answer 4

• The pressure to conform can be reduced if there are other people present who are not conforming
• The non-conforming person does not necessarily have to give the correct answer, but the fact that they are not conforming to the majority enables a person to be free to follow their own conscience
• For example, in Asch’s variations, conformity rates dropped to 5.5% when there was one correct dissenter in the group
• If the dissenter was incorrect, conformity rates dropped to 9%

Question 5

How does social support affect obedience?

Answer 5

• The pressure to obey can be reduced if there is another person who is seen to disobey
• For example, in one of Milgram’s variations, the rate of obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the real participant was joined by a disobedient confederate
• The person might not follow the disobedient person’s behaviour, but is able to make decisions based on their own conscience

Question 6

Who investigated how social support influenced obedience?

Answer 6

Gamson et al (1982)

Question 7

What was the method of Gamson’s study which investigated how social support influenced obedience?

Answer 7

• The researchers advertised for volunteers in a local newspaper in a town in Michigan, USA and asked them to take part in a paid group discussion on ‘standards of behaviour in the community’
• This group discussion took place at a local Holiday Inn where they were put into groups of 9 and met a consultant from a fictional (made-up) company called MHRC
• The consultant explained that MHRC was conducting research for an oil company, which was taking legal action against a petrol station manager
• They argued that the manager had been sacked because his lifestyle was offensive to the local community, however the manager argued that he was sacked for speaking out on local TV against high petrol prices
• Participants took part in a group discussion about the sacking and this was filmed
• As the discussion continued, it became clear that MHRC wanted them to argue in favour of the sacking and disregarded the participants’ own views
• The cameraman stopped filming at certain points during the discussion and instructed different members of the group to argue in favour of the oil company’s decision to sack the manager
• The participants were asked to sign a consent form, allowing the film to be shown in a court case

Question 8

What were the results of Gamson’s study which investigated how social support influenced obedience?

Answer 8

• 32 out of the 33 groups that were tested rebelled in some way during the group discussion
• The participants established a strong group identity where they agreed that the demands of the authority was unreasonable
• 25 out of the 33 groups refused to sign the consent form, as they didn’t want the film to be used in court
• 9 groups threatened legal action against MHRC

Question 9

What are 2 strengths of social support as an explanation of resistance to social influence?

Answer 9

1. It has research to support the idea that it can reduce social influence
   - For example, in Asch’s study, conformity rates dropped to 5.5% when there was a correct dissenter
   - In Milgram’s study, obedience rates dropped to 10% when the real participant was joined by a disobedient confederate who refused to give the shocks
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2. The studies supporting social support can be applied to real life
   - For example, Gamson’s study had high ecological validity (it relates to everyday situations as it is normal for people to get sacked)
   - Having a discussion about standards of behaviour in the community is real to life, which means that the social support theory can be applied to real life
   - The participants were unaware that they were participating in a psychological study so they would not show demand characteristics

Question 10

What are 2 weaknesses of social support as an explanation of resistance to social influence?

Answer 10

1. The studies explaining social support are restricted to small group sizes and therefore don’t represent the group sizes in the real world
   - The studies explain social support when you have a group size of under 10 people as 1 dissenter can influence non-conformity or disobedience
   - In the real world, group sizes are much bigger (e.g: 100s) and having 1 dissenter in a big group will not have any influence on the majority
   - Therefore more research would be required to establish the effects of social support on resistance to social influence in the real world
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2. It does not take into account individuals’ personalities as it is a situational factor