Social Support- Resistance to Social Influence

• Social Support: 1

  • The presence of other people who act as models to show that resistance to social influence is possible.
  • One reason that people can resist the pressure to conform or obey is if they have an ally providing social support.
  • Specifically, social support increases resistance to conform by allowing the individual to consider that their way of thinking may be legitimate (ISI) & reducing the fear of not being accepted (NSI) so that they can go against group pressure.
• Social Support makes us more resistant to social influence.
• Social Support: 2

  • In 1 variation of his study, Asch found that social support enables an individual to resist pressure to conform to the majority- an ally reduces conformity.
  • Having social support increases resistance to obey by acting as a role model for disobedience, increasing confidence in own autonomy & providing 'safety in numbers' against potential punishment.
  • Variation of Milgram's study had the PPs as one of a team of the 3 'teachers' testing the 'learner'- obedience rates dropped.
• Gamson et al Study 1982:

  • Gamson et al conducted a study on resisting obedience.
  • PPs answered an advertisement to take part in a study supposedly ran by a public relations firm, these PPs met in groups at a motel & were paid $10 for two hours' work.
  • They were asked to consider the case of an employee, Mr. C, who it was claimed had behaved immorally.
  • It gradually became apparent that what the company wanted was some videotaped support for their views.
  • At end of session, each group asked to jointly sign a form to allow the company to use the videotape.
• Gamson et al Study 1982 Findings:

  • Altogether 33 groups took part in the study, but 29 of these groups refused to sign to allow the company to use the videotape, ie they disobeyed authority (4 groups signed).
• Evaluation of Resistance to Social Influence- Strength:

  • There's research evidence for the role of social support in resisting obedience; in Gamson et al's study, 29/33 of the groups refused to let their video recordings be submitted into the decision making process regarding the employee's future.
  • Indicates that the social support provided by being placed in groups had increased resistance to obedience- indicates the validity of social support as a variable in increasing resistance to social influence.
• Evaluation of Resistance to Social Influence- Strength:

  • Research indicates that any social support can help with resisting social influence to conform.
  • Allen & Levine (1969) replicated the Asch variation with social support but varied whether the supporter wore thick glasses (thus making them less valid in a visual perception task).
  • Whilst the valid supporter did reduce conformity more, both conditions revealed a significant reduction in conformity rates- indicates how important social support is in providing resistance to social influence.
• Evaluation of Resistance to Social Influence- Strength:

  • The importance of social support in real life resistance of social influence to obey orders is demonstrated in the Rosentrasse protest- groups of German women demonstrated against the imprisonment of Jewish men (their husbands & sons) by standing up to Gestapo agents despite threats they would be shot.
  • The men were eventually released, one woman stated that they would usually be too afraid to show dissent.
  • Indicates the power of disobedient peers giving confidence to individuals.