Resistance to social influence

• What does resistance to social influence refer to?

  Ability to withstand pressures to conform
• What are two important factors contributing to resistance to social influence?

  Social support and locus of control
• How does social support affect resistance to social influence?

  • Provides shared views or dissent
  • Breaks unanimous majority positions
  • Reduces normative and informational influence
  • Facilitates maintenance of personal beliefs
• How did Asch's conformity studies demonstrate social support's effect?

  Presence of a dissenting Confederate reduced conformity
• What was the impact of a disobedient Confederate in Milgram's experiment?

  Obedience levels dropped from 65% to 10%
• What was the focus of Alre et al.'s 2006 study?

  Social support for pregnant teenagers quitting smoking
• What did Alre et al.'s study find regarding mentors?

  Mentored participants were less likely to smoke
• What does Gamson et al.'s 1982 study illustrate about peer influence?

  • Participants resisted unethical tasks
  • 88% disobeyed instructions
  • Peer presence emboldened resistance
• What was the main finding of Allan and LaVine's 1971 study?

  Dissenting individuals reduced conformity levels
• How does locus of control affect resistance to social influence?

  Internals resist more than externals
• Who introduced the concept of locus of control?

  Julian Rotter
• What characterizes individuals with a high internal locus of control?

  They believe they control their life events
• What characterizes individuals with a high external locus of control?

  They believe external factors control their lives
• What does the locus of control continuum represent?

  • Spectrum from internal to external locus
  • Individuals vary in control perception
  • Most fall somewhere in between
• What did Holland's 1967 study reveal about locus of control and obedience?

  37% internals refused maximum shock, 23% externals
• What did Shoot's 1975 study find regarding internal locus of control?

  Internals expressed their views more often
• What limitation did Twal's 2004 research highlight?

  Contradictory evidence on locus of control
• What does reactance theory suggest about resistance?

  Individuals rebel when choices are restricted
• What is the summary of resistance to social influence?

  • Involves resisting pressures to conform
  • Influenced by social support and locus of control
  • Research supports the impact of dissenting peers
  • Complex interplay of various factors
• What factors may influence resistance to social influence?

  • Locus of control
  • Social status
  • Reactance theory
  • Peer influence
• What research shows a link between locus of control and resistance to social influence?

  Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's study and measured whether people were internal or external loves of control
• What did Holland (1967) find from his study?

  37% of internals didn't continue to 450 volts and 23% of externals didn't continue to 450 volts
• What study argued against Hollands findings?

  Twinge (2004) analysed data from obedience studies over a 40 year period.
• What did Twenge (2004) find?

  He found that people were becoming more resistant to social influence but were also becoming more external