Resistance to social influence:

• What is resistance to social influence?

  Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
• What is social support?

  The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
• Resisting conformity:

  • The pressure to conform can be resisted if there are other people present who are not conforming
  • As seen in Asch's dissenting peer variation
  • The rate decreased to less than a quarter of the level it was when the majority was unanimous
• Resisting obedience:

  • The pressure to obey can be resisted if there is another person who is seen to disobey
  • As seen in one of Milgram's variations
  • The rate of obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the genuine participant was joined by a disobedient confederate
• Write a PEEL paragraph to highlight the strengths of social support:

  P- One strength is research evidence for the positive effects of social support

  E- Albrecht et al evaluated Teen Fresh start USA, an eight-week programme to help pregnant adolescents aged 14-19 resist peer pressure to smoke. social support was provided by a slightly older mentor

  E- At the end of the programme adolescents who had a 'buddy' were significantly less likely to smoke

  L- This shows that social support can help young people resist social influence as part of an intervention in the real world
• What is a strength of social support mentioned in the paragraph?

  Research evidence supporting dissenting peers
• What task were Gamson et al's participants asked to perform?

  Produce evidence for a smear campaign
• How did the levels of resistance in Gamson et al's study compare to Milgram's study?

  Higher levels of resistance were found
• Why did Gamson et al's participants show higher resistance?

  They were in groups and could discuss
• What percentage of groups in Gamson et al's study rebelled against orders?

  88%
• What does the evidence from Gamson et al's study suggest about peer support?

  It can lead to disobedience against authority
• What are the implications of Gamson et al's findings on social support and obedience?

  • Peer support can undermine authority
  • Groups can foster dissent against orders
  • Resistance is higher in group settings
• What is Locus of control?

  • Rotter proposed locus of control (LOC) as a concept concerned with internal control versus external control
  • Those with an internal LOC- believe the things that happen to them are largely controlled by themselves
  • Those with an external LOC- believe the things that happen are outside their control
• What is the locus of control related to in this context?

  Resistance to social influence
• How do people with a high internal locus of control (LOC) respond to social pressures?

  They resist pressures to conform or obey
• What do individuals with a high internal LOC base their decisions on?

  Their own beliefs and personal responsibility
• What traits are commonly found in people with a high internal LOC?

  Self-confidence, achievement-orientation, higher intelligence
• How do the traits of individuals with a high internal LOC affect their resistance to social influence?

  These traits lead to greater resistance
• What characteristics do leaders share with individuals who have a high internal LOC?

  Less need for social approval than followers
• What are the key traits of individuals with a high internal locus of control?

  • High self-confidence
  • Achievement-oriented
  • Higher intelligence
  • Greater resistance to social influence