Social Influence p1

• Locus of Control - external control


  - People who believe their behaviour is controlled by other forces, such as luck or fate.

  - Less likely to behave independently as they don't believe they have control over events in life, and more likely to seek approval from others.
• a) Evaluation, supporting - Research support

  Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's study and measured whether ppts had an internal or external LOC.

  - Found 37% of externals showed resistance, and 23% of externals resisted.

  - Increases validity of LOC explanation, as it shows that ppts with internal LOC showed greater resistance to social influence.
• b) Social support


  - With social support, people don't feel totally isolated and are more confident.

  - Asch found protesters provide moral support, even if they give a different wrong answer from the majority, allowing the ppt to give the wrong answer.

  - The earlier someone speaks their dissent, the greater their chances of rallying others and resisting the majority.
• b) evaluation, supporting - research support

  - Explanation is supported from Milgram who found obedience levels dropping to 10% when 2 confederates 'rebelled' and refused to continue.

  - Shows the having allies will increase your confidence about disobeying and allow the resistance to appear more legitimate.
• Evaluation, supporting - Further support from Asch

  - Found conformity dropped from 33% to 5% when one confederate gave the correct answer on all trials.

  - Shows having social support increases confidence about resisting pressures to conform and allows the resistance appear more legitimate.