social support

• What is social support?

  People may resist pressures to conform or obey if they have support from a dissenter (someone who disagrees with the majority or refuses to obey). This frees the individual from the pressure to conform or obey, allowing them to act independently.
• How does social support affect conformity?

  It allows individuals to act independently
• What did Asch’s research show about resisting the majority?

  Resisting the majority is difficult due to normative social influence (need for acceptance) and informational social influence (desire to be right).
• What are the two types of social influence affecting conformity?

  Normative and informational social influence
• How does social support help in resisting conformity?

  An ally reduces conformity pressure by breaking the unanimity of the majority.
• What was the effect of an ally in Asch’s study?

  Conformity dropped from 33% to 5.5%
• Why are supporters and dissenters effective in reducing conformity?

  They provide alternative perspectives, providing an independent reality check that boosts confidence to resist the majority.
• How does the timing of social support influence resistance?

  Early support increases chances of resistance
• Why is resisting authority difficult?

  Obedience makes even harmful behaviour seem acceptable
• How does social support help in resisting obedience?

  An ally boosts confidence against authority and acts as a role model for disobedience.
• How can defiant peers help resist obedience?

  Seeing others disobey provides an opportunity to withdraw from harmful actions.
• What was the effect of peer disobedience in Milgram’s study?

  When two confederates refused to continue, only 10% of participants went to 450 volts.
• What are the key findings of Asch's research on conformity?

  • Resisting the majority is difficult
  • Normative and informational social influences are factors
  • Presence of an ally reduces conformity pressure
  • Conformity dropped from 33% to 5.5% with an ally
• What are the effects of social support on obedience?

  • Obedience makes harmful behavior seem acceptable
  • An ally boosts confidence against authority
  • Defiant peers provide opportunities to withdraw from harm
  • Only 10% of participants went to 450 volts with peer disobedience