resistance to social influence

• social support:

  • The presence of people who resist pressures can help others to do the same
  • shows majority is no longer unanimous and ppt is free to enable their own conscious
  • challenging LOA figure makes it easier to disobey
• Locus of control:

  • high internal = things happen as they are largely controlled by themselves = able to resist pressures to conform/obey
  • base decisions on own belief
  • more achievement orientated and more intelligent
• Analysis:

  • RWA for social support - albretch (2006)
  • research support of locus of control - holland (1967)
  • Challenging research twenege
• Research support of LOC and RSI:

  • Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's baseline study and measured whether parts were internals or externals.Found 37% of internals didn't continue to the highest shock level (showed some resistance), only 23% of externals didn't continue. Internals showed greater resistance to authorityResearch support of this nature increases validity of the LOC explanation and our confidence that it can explain resistance
• Challenging research:

  •  Twenge et al (2004) analysed data from American LOC studies over a 40 year period (1960-2002).Data showed that, over the time span, people have become more resistant to obedience but also more external. If resistance were linked to an internal LOC, expect people to have become more internalChallenges the link between internal LOC and increasing resistant behaviour. BUT, it is possible that the results are due to a changing society where many things are out of personal contro
• RWA - Albretch:

  • evaluated Teen Fresh start usa program to help pregnant adolescents resist peer pressure to smoke
  • social support provided by older buddy
  • found ppts less likely to smoke compared to control group
  • part of real world intervention