resistance to social influence

• Social Support


  Influence from peers that reduces conformity.
• Dissenting Partner


  A peer who disagrees, aiding resistance.
• Asch Research


  Study demonstrating conformity and dissent effects.
• Non-Conforming Peer


  A peer who initially resists but later conforms.
• Resistance to Conformity


  Ability to maintain independence from group pressure.
• Peer Support


  Encouragement from peers linked to resistance.
• In locus of Control (LOC), how do internals and externals place themselves? is there a continuum?


  - internals place control within themselves

  - externals place control outside themselves

  - there's a continuum
• do internals (LOC) show greater greater resistance to social influence?

  yes
• LOC- THESE PERSONALITY TRAITS LEAD TO GREATER RESISTANCE:

  - people with internal LOC are more likely to resist pressures to conform or obey

  - if someone takes personal responsibility for their actions, good or bad, they're more likely to base their decisions on their own beliefs

  - people with high internal LOC are more self confident, more achievement orientated, have higher intelligence and less need for social approval

  STRENGTHS:

  + research evidence supports the link between LOC and resistance to obedience, holland repeated milgrams study and measured wether participants were internal/external participants

  - internals showed greater resistance, supporting validity of loc theory

  
  

  LIMITATIONS:

  - not all research supports the link between LOC and resistance, twenge et al analysed data from American locus of control studies, showed people have become more independent but also external

  - the role of LOC in resisting social influence may be exaggerated, rotter found LOC was only important in familiar situations
• Internal Locus of Control

  Belief that outcomes are controlled by oneself.
• External Locus of Control

  Belief that outcomes are controlled by external factors.
• Continuum of Control


  Spectrum ranging from internal to external control.
• Personal Responsibility


  Taking ownership of one's actions and outcomes.
• Self-Confidence


  Belief in one's abilities, linked to resistance.
• Achievement Orientation


  Focus on success, correlating with internal locus.
• Research Evidence


  Studies supporting links between locus and resistance.
• Changing Society

  Societal shifts affecting locus of control perceptions.
• Rotter (1982)


  Found LOC is only important in new situations and has a little influence in familiar situations
• Low Need for Approval

  Less concern for social acceptance, aiding resistance.
• Independence


  Ability to act according to personal beliefs.
• Resistance to social influence

  - effect isn't long lasting, obedience is reduced by one other dissenting partner (social support)

  - aschs research showed if the 'non-conforming' peer starts conforming again, so does the naive participant.

  - aschs research showed that the dissenter doesn't have the 'right' to answer

  someone who does follow the majority frees others to follow their own conscience, dissenter acts as a model

  - research evidence supports the role of dissenting peers and resisting conformity = resistance isnt motivated by following what someone else says, but it enables someone to be free from the group

  - Alien and Levine found independence increased with one dissenter in Asch type study

  - research evidence supports the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience = shows peer support is linked to greater resistance, in gammons study 88% rebelled
• Internal LOC


  The idea that individuals believe they have control over their lives and the consequences that come with their actions.
• Holland's Study (+)

  Repeated Milgram's study and found that participants with internal LOC showed greater resistance to obeying orders.
• LOC Theory


  The theory that internal LOC is related to resistance to obedience and dependence on external factors.
• Twenge et al.'s Study (-)

  Found that, while people are becoming more independent, they are also becoming more external (less internal) in terms of LOC.
• Rotter's Study (-)

  Found that LOC is only important in familiar situations, not in all situations, when it comes to resisting social influence.
• External LOC


  The idea that individuals believe their lives and actions are controlled by external factors, rather than themselves.