discuss explanations for resistance

• introduction

  • resistance - withstand pressure to conform or obey
  • social support - others who resist increases likelihood
  • locus of control - personality trait that emphasises control over actions
• A01

  Social Support

  • provides confidence and reduces pressure to comply
  • conformity - dissenter acts as a model for independence (Asch - 5.5%)
  • obedience - dissenter reduces legitimacy of authority figure (Milgram - 10%
• A01

  Locus of Control

  • proposed by Rotter
  • internal - actions result from own choices and efforts
  • independent, self-confident and achievement-orientated
  • more likely to resist
  • external - behaviour is controlled by external factors
  • less personal control over actions
  • less likely to resist
• A03

  • research support
  • Asch found conformity dropped to 5.5% and obedience dropped to 10% with social support
  • research support
  • Holland found 37% of internal LOC resisted compared to 23%, internals are less reliant on external validation
  • limited role of locus of control
  • Twenge et al found more people become resistant and external, oversimplifies situational factors