social influence: locus of control

Question 1

who proposed the concept

Answer 1

Rotter

Question 2

define locus of control

Answer 2

the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives

Question 3

outline internal locus of control

Answer 3

Believe that the things that happen to them are largely controlled by
themselves

• For example they do well in an exam it is because they worked hard

Question 4

outline external locus of control

Answer 4

Believe that things happen without their own control

• For example if they did well in an exam theywould say it is because of an excellent textbook

Question 5

explain the continuum

Answer 5

it isn’t as simple as being internal or external > everyone fits onto the continuum with high internal LOC at one end and high external LOC at the other

Question 6

what kind of locus of control makes someone more likely to resist social influnce

Answer 6

internal

• they take responsibility for their actions and experiences.
• they base their actions on their own belief and thus resist pressure from others
• they’re more self-confident, more achievement-orientated, have higher intelligence and have less need for social approval

Question 7

AO3: research to support

Answer 7

Research evidence supports the link between LOC and resistance to obedience.
Holland (1967) repeated Milgram’s study and measured whether participants were internals or externals. Holland
found that 37% of the internals did not continue to the highest shock level whereas only 23% of the externals did not continue.
The internals were able to show greater resistance to obedience through refusing to shock,

STRENGTH as this therefore supports Rotter’s theory that having an internal locus of control makes you more likely to resist social influence This research supports the dispositional explanation for obedience adding to the situational versus dispositional debate

Question 8

AO3: research to go against

Answer 8

However, there is contradictory evidence that goes against the concept of LOC playing a part in whether individuals are more or less likely to obey
Twenge et al (2004) analysed data from obedience studies over a 40 year period (1960- 2002). The data found that over this time span individuals have become more resistant to obedience but also more external

WEAKNESS as If resistance were linked to LOC then we would expect people to have become more internal. This therefore challenges
the link between internal LOC and resistant behaviour.