resistance to social influence

• the key reasons that people can resist the pressure to conform or obey include social support and locus of control
• Social support-

  perception that an individual has assistance available from other people and they are a part of a support network
• Asch found presence of social support allows people to resist conformity 

  • Asch- introduction of an ally who also gave the right answer caused conformity levels to drop from 33% to 5.5%
  • Social support breaks the unanimity of the majority
  • Raising the possibility that there are other legitimate ways of thinking or responding to help them feel confident in going against majority
• Locus of control

  • Perception of a person's control over their behaviour and whether its dependent on what they do or events outside their personal control
• Internals

  Someone with an internal locus of control believes that they determine their behaviour,

  these people actively seek out info which is useful to them and rely on their own opinion ,

  therefore they are more likely to resist coercion and social influence from others.

  -more achievement oriented and therefore more likely to become leaders
• Externals

  • More passive and fatalistic attitude 

  people with an external locus of control believe that what happens to them is determined by external factors and things which are out of their personal control and therefore they tend to rely on others,taking less reponsibility and showing less independent behaviours therefore arent so effective at resisting social influence
• Social support has a role in resistance to obedience to authority figures.

  • milgram- condition with 3 learners- 2 confs. eventually refused to give shocks and withdrew from experiment
  • reduced obedience (to 450v) down to 10%
  • the presence of disobedient peers gives individual confidence and courage to resist authority's orders