Resistance to Social Influence

• Name a way to resist S.I

  • Social Support
• How does Social Support help to resist Conformity?

  • Can be reduced when other people not conforming is present
  • Asch study -> person not conforming doesn't have to give right answer but just to have someone else there who doesn't follow majority --> acts as a 'model'
  • THIS enables p. to be free & follow own conscious
• How does Social Support help resist Obedience?

  • pressure to obey reduced if someone else is seen to disobey
  • MILGRAM Variation - obedience fell 65% -> 10% when a disobeying confederate joined
  • participant might not follow disobedient behaviour but sees them as a 'model' & able to act on own conscious
• What is Locus of Control?

  A concept - the extent which people believe they have control over their own lives
• Who came up with the idea of LoC?

  Julian Rotter
• Give an example of having Internal LoC.

  If we did good on an exam - the belief that we did well is because we revised hard for it
• Give an example of External LoC.

  If did well on exam - the belief we did well is because the textbook we used was good/blame it on luck
• Which is more likely to resist S.I? Internal or External?

  Internal
• Why is Internal LoC more likely to resist?

  -> Takes responsibility for their actions and act on their own value

  • Self confident
  • Less need for social approval
• Why is External LoC more likely to conform/obey?

  -> believe what happens to them is due to external factors - have no control over
• What is LoC of? (scale)

  • Continuum
  • If ELoC - outcome out of our control - everything is determined by fate
  • If ILoC - outcome is within our control - determined by how hard we work
  • In between - low ELoC/ILoC
• STRENGTH (SS)- REAL WORLD APP


  -> Albrecht - 8 week program that provided help to pregnant teens - resist pressure to smoke

  --> Social Support - by someone older - significantly less to smoke than control group

  • Can also prevent doing other dangerous/damaging behaviour during preg -> will reduce baby having health problems
  • Financially beneficial - focus on other resources than medical issues as its prevented in advance
• STRENGTH (SS) - Research Support


  ->Gamson et al - had people work in groups to gather evidence to help an oil company run a smear campaign

  --> Had higher levels of resistance than in Milgram study - due to being in groups?

  • 88% rebelled - peer support links to greater resistance - obedience
• STRENGTH (LoC) - Research support


  -> HOLLAND - Repeated Milgram's study - measured participants if they had Internal or External

  --> 37% internals did not continue to the highest level of shock

  --> 23% externals did not continue to highest level

  • Internals show greater resistance to authority -> ignored the prompts
  • Increases validity on LOC
• LIMITATION (LOC) Limited Explanation


  -> Rotter - LOC only could be used in novel situations than familiar situations

  --> if situation is done in the past - most likely will repeat the behaviour from back then

  • LOC can only work in novel situation - new decision