Resistance to social influence

• What are the two main factors that explain resistance to social influence?

  Locus of control and social support
• What does the locus of control measure?


  It measures an individual's sense of control over their lives
• What is the difference between internal and external locus of control?


  Internal locus of control believes behavior is caused by personal decisions, while external locus believes behavior is caused by luck or fate
• How do individuals with a high internal locus of control typically behave in terms of conformity and obedience?


  They conform and obey less because they take responsibility for their actions
• Why are people with a high external locus of control more likely to conform?


  They believe that most life events are beyond their control, leading them to act on behalf of others
• What is an example of a thought reflecting a high internal locus of control?


  'I won the award because I worked hard for it.'
• What is an example of a thought reflecting a low external locus of control?


  'I won the award because it was meant to be – it was my destiny.'
• What did Atgis (1998) find in their meta-analysis regarding locus of control and conformity?


  Those with a high external locus of control were more easily persuaded and likely to conform
• What did Oliner and Oliner (1988) discover about rescuers during the Holocaust?


  Rescuers had an internal locus of control and scored higher on measures of social responsibility
• What limitation did Rutter suggest regarding the locus of control explanation?


  It is only valid for novel situations, as previous experiences are more influential
• How did Asch's study demonstrate the impact of social support on conformity?


  Conformity levels dropped when a confederate gave the correct answer, providing social support
• What was the effect of having two confederates disobey the experimenter in Milgram's study?


  Obedience levels dropped to 10% due to the social support from the confederates
• What did Gamson et al. find regarding larger groups and social support?


  Larger groups provide a stronger social support system, making resistance to obedience easier
• What are the key components of the locus of control theory?


  • Internal locus of control: belief in personal control over events
  • External locus of control: belief in luck or fate controlling events
  • Influences on conformity and obedience
• What are the implications of social support on resistance to social influence?

  • Social support reduces conformity
  • Provides confidence to reject majority positions
  • Influences obedience levels in authority situations