SOCIAL INFLUENCE- resistance to social influence Flashcards
what is resistance to social influence?
The ability for people to withstand social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. It is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
what is social support?
The presence of other people who resist pressures to conform or obey and help others to do the same.
They act as models and show that resistance is possible
How does social support help to resist conformity?
If there is someone else not following the majority, this is social support.
Enables the naive participant to be free to follow their own conscience.
How does social support help to resist obedience?
If another person is seen to disobey, they act as a ‘model’ which challenges the legitimacy of authority figure making it easier for others to disobey.
what is LOC (Locus of control)?
Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives. Our LOC can be internal or external.
who proposed Locus of Control?
Julian Rotter (1966)
what is internal locus of control?
Internals believe that they are mostly responsible for what happens to them.
what is external locus of control?
Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces.
What type of LOC helps to resist to social influence?
HIGH INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL - more able to resist pressures to conform or obey. If a person takes responsibility for their actions and experiences, they tend to base their decisions on their own beliefs rather than depending on the opinions of others.
what are the charactersitics of people with high internal locus of control?
self confident
achievement oriented
higher intelligence
leaders
don’t need social approval
evaluate social support?
+ research evidence for the positive effects of social support
eg. Susan Albrecht et al (2006)
A programme to help pregnant adolescents resist peer pressure to smoke was evaluated. Social support was provided by a ‘buddy’.
FINDINGS - adolescents who had a buddy were significantly less ‘likely’ to smoke than Ps who didn’t have a ‘buddy’.
This shows that social support can help young people resist social influence as part of an intervention in the real world.
+ research evidence supporting the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience
William Gamson et al (1982) - researchers found higher levels of resistance in their study because Ps were in groups so could discuss what they were told to do. 88% of Ps rebelled against their orders.
This shows that peer support can lead to disobedience by undermining the legitimacy of an authority figure.
Evaluate the link between LOC and resistance to obedience.
+ research evidence to support the link between LOC and resistance to obedience
Charles Holland (1967) - repeated milgrams study and measured whether Ps were internals or externals.
FINDINGS - 37% internals did not continue to the highest level of shock whereas 23% externals did not continue which means internals showed more resistance.
This shows that resistance is partly related to LOC which increases validity of LOC as an explanation of disobedience.
- evidence that challenges the link between LOC and resistance
eg Jean Twenge et al (2004) - studied American LOC studies that was conducted over a 40 year period.
It shows that people became more resistant but also more external. This goes against the idea that resistance is linked to internals .
This suggests that the LOC is not a valid explanation of how people resist social influence.
