Social Influence - resistance to social influence Flashcards
what are the two explanations for resistance to social influence?
social support (situational factor) locus of control (dispositional factor)
explain the explanation social support.
we find it uncomfortable to go against a unanimous majority so we might conform the same as the majority
what could happen to less people conform?
if one person in the group breaks unanimity - shows there are other ways of thinking
what evidence supports the explanation for resisting social influence social support?
Asch research - conformity rates fell from 32% to 5% when one confederate gave the correct answer in the line test and they fell to 9% even when they gave a wrong answer
what research challenges the idea of the explanation social support?
in Asch study pps resisted pressure to conform and gave the correct answers in the test even if all the confederates gave the incorrect answers
how can we resist obedience through social support?
when we witness other people disobey they can become a role model which we follow
what evidence is there to support the explanation social support through resisting obedience?
in milligrams study there was a disobedient confederate who disobeyed to go through with the electric shocks - rates of obedience went from 65% to 10%
what is meant by locus of control?
when an individual feels control in their life which comes from internal and external factors
give an example of a INTERNAL locus of control.
an individual believed they did bad on a exam because they failed to practise the exam questions, didnt revise enough
give an example of a EXTERNAL locus of control.
they believed they had done bad on a test because the teacher was poor
people who have an …. locus of control are more likely to……?
internal
resist the pressure to conform or to obey
why are people with an internal locus of control more likely to resist the pressure to conform or obey?
- believe they are responsible for their own actions
- able to withstand discomfort from resisting pressures to conform
- less need to social approval
what research supports the explanation of resisting obedience because of their locus of control?
- repeat of milgrams study 37% of those with internal locus of control refused to the highest shock
- only 23% with external locus of control refused
what research challenges the explanation locus of control? 1
locus of control does not have nay link with resisting conformity because of informational processes where people only agree with majority because they think they’re correct - only partial explanation
what research challenges the explanation locus of control? 2
data from over 40 years ago show people have become more resistant to obedience over time but people have become more external in their locus of control. this shift in locus of control may reflect how society is changing where it is clear that many things are out of our control.
