Resistance to social influence

• Social support


  The perception that an individual has assistance available from other people, and that they are part of a supportive network
• Resisting conformity


  1. Asch (1956) found social support enables an individual to resist conformity pressure from a majority

  2. The introduction of an ally who also gave the right answer caused conformity rates to drop from 33% to 5.5%

  3. Social support breaks the unanimous position and increases self-esteem
• Resisting obedience


  1. Individuals are more confident and able to resist orders if they have an ally

  2. Disobedient peers act as role models

  3. Milgram – 3 learners (2 confederates) when they refused only 10% real participants continued to maximum shock
• Locus of control

   

  - LOC refers to a person’s perception of personal control over their own behaviour. This can either be internal or external.
• High internal

  More independent

  Belief that they are in control

  Rely less on others opinions

  More achievement-orientated

  Better able to resist social influence
• High external

  Belief in luck or fate

  Take less personal responsibility

  More passive

  Less likely to display independent behaviour

  More likely to accept influence from others