Social Influence - Resistance to Social Influence 9-12 Flashcards
Resistance to Social Influence
The pressure to conform is high within society. We can use Milgram experiment where there was 65% conformity in the original experiment
Social Support
A situational explanation of resistance to social influence. It argues that when someone is not obedient/doesn’t conform, it makes others more likely to reject social influence
Non Conformity
People are more likely to not conform when they have an ally who also doesn’t conform. They help break the unanimity of the group. It gives others the chance to e to have their own view and stand up to the majority
Disobedience
People are more likely to disobey when they see a role model disobey. It challenges authority figures’ legitimate authority. Social support is associated with the diffusion of responsibility which makes people less likely to obey.
Evaluation of Social Support Theory
+ An advantage of this theory is that it is backed up by Asch’s study. Originally, conformity was at 37% but when there was a confederate that broke the unanimity of the group, it was found that conformity dropped to 5%. The key idea is that when the unanimity of the group was broken, the conformity dropped
- People still refused to obey or conform in the original Milgram and Asch experiments showing that it could just be be due to people’s personality and character
Dispositional Factors
Examples are Ones characteristics that they possess and how they behave. Rotter (1966) argued that personality traits which are dispositional factors affect conformity and obedience
Internal Locus of Control
Those who believe that they have an internal locus of control believe whatever happens within their life is a result of their actions. These individuals are less likely to be obedient or conform as they:
- They are more likely to be leaders rather than followers
- They are more self-confident
- Less concerned with the idea of social approval
- Believe that they control their own circumstance
External Locus of Control
Individuals who have external locus of control believe that what happens in life is not in their control
Evaluation of Dispositional Factors as a Reason for Resistance to Social Influence
+ Oliner&Oliner interviewed 40 people who took in Jews during Nazi Germany. They found that these people had an internal locus of control. (Less likely to obey and conform) They felt they have to do something because whatever happens to them is within their control
- Williams and Warchal found that conformers were less assertive than non-conformers. He investigated into locus of control but found no difference. This shows how assertiveness can be important when trying to understand why an individual doesn’t conform or obey
Minority Influence
Minority influence comes from when small groups or individuals change the way the majority behave
Moscovici
Minority Influence leads to Conversion. Conversion is where individuals change their private beliefs and views due to minority influence
How can Minority groups be Influential
Commitment - Minority groups can make sacrifices and inconvenience themselves in orders to demonstrate their dedication
Consistent - Minority groups can be consistent through the fact that they continue to repeat the message over and over again.
Flexible - Minority groups should be willing to negotiate and listen to the other side of the argument and make compromises
Evaluation for Minority Influence
+ Wood et al found that most groups were most successful when they were consistent
- Most of these experiments on minority influence are carried out in controlled environments. This may raise the question of ecological validity and whether the studies can be related to society
+ Nemeth and Brilmayar investigated into flexibility. They had participants debate on the compensation someone involved in a Ski accident would receive. They had one confederate offer an alternative minority view but not be flexible. It was found to have no affect on the group. When a confederate offered an alternative minority view and was flexible, the group were influenced
Social Change
Social change is when the whole society changes their beliefs and behaviours as a result of minority influence. Examples of Social Change can be:
- Gay rights
- Suffragette Movement
- Landslide election victories
Social change begins when the minority view challenges the majority view in a society. Once the majority have accepted the minority view, Social change has occurred. This can lead to Normative social influence and Informational social influence. Normative social influence leads to compliance and Informational social influence leads to internalisation.
Minority groups are more likely to be successful when they are
Committed
Consistent
Flexible
