Resistance to social influence

• Types of resistance to social influence?

  Social support

  Locus of control
• How can social support help people resist conformity?

  • Pressure to conform can be reduced if there are others not conforming
  • (e.g. Asch's variation with a decentre)
  • Someone simply not following the majority may help others to follow their own conscience too
  • This person/people act as a model
• How can social support help people resist obedience?

  • Pressure to obey can be reduced if there is another person who disobeys
  • (E.g. Milgram's variations where genuine ppt joined by disobedient confederate, 65% to 10% obedience)
  • Person acts as a model for ppt to act from own conscience
• What research support can be used to support the resistance to conformity through social support?(AO3)

  • Allen and Levine (1971)
  • Conformity decreased when there was one dissenter in a replicated Asch study
  • This occurred even if dissenter wore tick glasses and said he had difficulty with his vision
  • Supports the view that resistance is not just motivated by what people say, enables ppts to be free from pressure and follow own conscience
• What research support can be used to support the resistance to obedience through social support? (AO3)

  • Gamson et al (1982)
  • Ppts had to produce evidence used to help oil company run smear campaign
  • Found higher levels of resistance in their study compared to Milgram's
  • Most likely due to ppts in groups , 29 out of 33 groups rebelled (88%)
  • Shows peer support = greater resistance
• Types of LOC?

  Internal- believe we can control events that happen to us

  External- believe that things happen outside of our control
• How does LOC help resist social influence? (conform/obey)

  • People with an internal LOC are more likely to resist pressure to conform or obey
  • They are able to take responsibility for actions, own beliefs and resist pressures
  • High LOC are more self-confident, achievement-orientated, higher intelligence and less need for social approval
  • Personality leads to greater resistance
• What research support can be used to support LOC to resistance to obedience? (AO3)

  • Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's baseline study
  • Measured whether ppts were internal or external LOCS
  • 37% of internals did not reach highest shock level (showing resistance)
  • 23% of internals did not continue
  • Internals therefore showed greater resistance to authority, support increases overall validity of exp.
• What contradictory research suggests LOC does not have a link to resistance to obedience?

  • Twenge et al (2004)
  • Analysed data from American LOC studies over 40 years (1960-2002)
  • Data showed people have become more resistant to obedience but also more external LOC
  • If resistance were linked to LOC, people would likely become more internal
  • Challenges previous link found but could be due to the changing nature of society
• Define LOC

  • a person’s belief about the extent to which they have control over their life events
  • It can be internal (control lies within the individual) or external (control lies outside the individual, like luck or fate).