social influence- resistance, minority influence and social change

Question 1

evaluation: explanations of resistance to social influence + LOC
strength: research support (Asch) social support (3)

Answer 1

-asch unanimity variation: dissenter provides social support, conformity dropped from 32% to 5.5%
-occurred even when dissenter wore thick glasses- he was in no position to judge the lines
-resistance enables freedom from group pressure

Question 2

evaluation: explanations of resistance to social influence + LOC
strength: research support (milgram) social support (2)

Answer 2

-2 confederate teachers provided social support (one refused to continue at 150V, one refused to obey at 210V)
-obedience dropped to 10%

Question 3

evaluation: explanations of resistance to social influence + LOC
criticism: research support (Asch+milgram) counterpoint (3)

Answer 3

-even in asch and miglrams variations with social support, some still conform (5.5%) and obey (10%)
-suggest there are dispositional factors like LOC or AP

Question 4

evaluation: explanations of resistance to social influence + LOC
strength: milgrams study research support (holland)- LOC

Answer 4

-holland repeated milgrams study for LOC
-37% internal LOC didnt continue to 450V
-23% external LOC didnt continue to 450V
-increased validity of LOC as an explanation

Question 5

evaluation: explanations of resistance to social influence + LOC
criticism: role of LOC in social influence is exaggerated

Answer 5

-LOC is relevant only in new situations so it has little influence in familiar situations
-LOC can only explain a limited range of situations
-LOC is not an important factor in resistance as some have suggested

Question 6

evaluation: research into minority influence
strength: research support for consistency (2)

Answer 6

-researched used meta-analysis of 100 similar studies- found consistent minorities were more influential
-moscovici study shows consistent minority had more influence (8.42%) than inconsistent minority (1.25%)

Question 7

evaluation: research into minority influence
strength: research support for deeper processing (3)

Answer 7

-deeper processing is needed for majority to change to minority view
-it’ll have a longer lasting effect as it shows better commitment
-researcher measured people’s agreement to a view. 1 group heard minority’s view, 1 group hear majority’s view. people who heard minority view were less likely to change their own view

Question 8

evaluation: research into minority influence
criticism: artificial task

Answer 8

-moscovici’s task wasn’t reflective of real-life situation- lacks mundane realism
-study was in a lab- artificial environment isnt reflective of reaction sin real-life situations due to demand characteristics
-stud lacks ecological and internal validity

Question 9

evaluation: role of social influence processes in social change
strength: research support (4)

Answer 9

-researcher studies if social influence processes lead to less energy consumption
-posted messages on houses everyday for a month, saying others are reducing energy use
-found significant decrease in energy use
-shows conformity and NSI can lead to social change

Question 10

evaluation: role of social influence processes in social change
criticism: barriers to social change (4)

Answer 10

-for social influence to have an impact barriers must be explored. Shows importance of consistency
-researcher found people failed to behave environmentally-well because enviornmentalists were ‘tree huggers’/’weirdos’ and didnt want associate
-prevents change on a large scale due to social stigma- more likely to resist behavioural change if it comes with perceived social costs
-minorities should avoid acting stereotypically as its a barrier to the majority