explanations of resistance to social influence

• Resistance to social influence

  The ability of people to withstand the social pressures to conform to the majority or authority.
• Resistance to social influence: conformity - Asch


  Individuals with a non-conforming person are more likely to resist conforming to group pressure because they breaks the group's unanimity and creates an alternative group to belong to.

  The overall conformity rate across all critical trials was 32%. However, there were significant individual differences.

  25% of participants resisted the pressure to conform on every critical trial.
• Resistance to social influence: obedience - Milgram


  Individuals with a disobedient role model are more likely to resist obeying the orders of an authority figure because the role model challenges the 'legitimacy of authority'.

  The overall obedience rate was 65%. However, there were significant individual differences.

  35% of participants resisted the pressure to obey by refusing to deliver the full 450v shock.
• Explanations of resistance to social influence

  • Social support
  • Locus of control
• Social support

  The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
• Social support - diffusion of responsibility

  The more people who disobey or dissent, the less severe the consequences are likely to be. Social support also counters feelings of isolation and vulnerability from dissent or defiance, reinforcing the individual's resolve and legitimising resistance.
• Social support - + supporting evidence for resistance to conformity.


  E - Allen and Levine - conformity decreased when there was one protestor in an Asch-type study.

  E - This supports the view that resistance is not just motivated by following what someone else says but it enables someone to be free of the pressure from the group..

  L - Therefore, this supports that social support is a reason for resistance to conformity.
• Social support - + Supporting evidence for resistance to obedience


  E - Gamson et al: Ps were in groups and had to produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign. 29 out of 33 Ps rebelled.

  E - This shows that peer support is linked to greater resistance.

  L - Therefore, it suggests that social support is a reason for resistance to obedience.
• Locus of control


  Rotter's (1966) Locus of control refers to a belief regarding what people consider to be the causes of their experiences and the factors that influence their successes or failures. This perspective influences how people perceive and interact with their environment.
• Internal LOC


  Believe that they have personal control over their lives and the outcomes of their actions.

  They tend to attribute success and failure to their own efforts and abilities.

  People with strong internal LOC are more likely to take responsibility for their actions and are generally more proactive in seeking information and making decisions.
• External LOC


  Believe that external factors, such as fate, luck, or powerful others control their lives.

  They tend to attribute outcomes to outside forces rather than their own actions.

  People with a strong external LOC may feel less empowered to effect change in their lives or to resist social pressures.
• Resistance to conformity - internal LOC

  Are more likely to resist conforming to group pressure because they believe in their ability to make independent judgements and decisions. Their sense of personal agency and responsibility encourages them to stand by their convictions, even under social pressure.
• Resistance to obedience - internal LOC

  More likely to resist obeying an authority figure due to their sense of independence, self-confidence and personal responsibility for their actions. They are willing to question the orders of an authority figure, ultimately defying commands that conflict with their values or reasoning.
• Continuum of locus of control

  Locus of control is a spectrum with high internal LOC at one end and high external LOC at the other. Low internal LOC and low external LOC lie in between.
• Locus of control - + Supporting evidence


  E - Holland: when repeating Milgram's baseline study and measuring if they has an internal or external LOC - 37% with internal LOC did not continue over 450v compared to 23% of external LOC.

  E - This shows that individuals with external LOC are more likely to conform than internal.

  L - Therefore, this supports how people with a external LOC believe everything is not in their control.
• Locus of control - / Contradictory research - not all research supports the link between LOC and resistance.


  E - Twenge et al analyse data from American obedience studies over 40 years. People became more resistant to obedience over the 40 years but also more external.

  E - If resistance was linked to an internal LOC, we would expect people to have become more internal.

  L - However, results may be due to a changing society where many things are out of personal control.