SI - resistance

• Locus of Control


  Personality dimensions that measure what factors and how much responsibility we have over events in our lives
• Rotter 


  described internal vs external LOC via a questionnaire, he placed them on a continuum rather than being one or the other (high/low external or high/low internal)
• External LOC

  • things happen outside of their control
  • if they fail at something they blame it on external factors rather than because it was difficult/their own responsibility
• Internal LOC

  • things that happen to them are largely controlled by themselves
  • doing well or doing badly depends on how hard they work
• Internal LOC in relation to social influence

  people with high internal LOC are less likely to conform or obey

  • they take personal responsibility
  • they believe in control over choices/events
  • have more confidence
  • more likely to be a leader than a follower
• External LOC in relation to social influence

  • Do not take responsibility for their actions
  • Believe in fate or luck
  • Believe in outside forces MORE LIKELY TO OBEY OR CONFORM
• :) research support for ILOC being less likely to conform 


  Spector used Rotters LOC scale on 157 students, he found those with high ILOC were less likely to conform than those with high ELOC but only in situations of normative social influence where they conform to be accepted.

  He found no difference between the groups for informative social influence

  Suggesting NSI is more powerful than ISI when considering LOC.
• :) research evidence supports the link between LOC and resistance to obedience

  Holland repeated Milgrams study and measured if ppts were externals or internals, 37% internals did not continue to the highest shock level, only 23% of externals did not continue.

  Therefore internals showed greater resistance, increasing the validity of the LOC explanation and our confidence that it can explain resistance.
• :( not all research supports the link between LOC and resistance

  Twenge did a meta analysis of data from American LOC studies over 40yrs, showing over the time span people have become more independent (resistant to social influence) but also more external.

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

  Thus challenging the link between ILOC and resistance. However, this may be due to societal change where many things are becoming outside personal control.

  It implies LOC is not a valid explanation of how people resist social influence.
• :( Rotter himself stated LOC is not necessarily the most important factor in resisting social influence

  LOC’s role depends on the situation. A persons LOC only significantly affects their behaviour in new situation. It has little influence in familiar situations as past experience is more important. This is often overlooked.

  If you have conformed or obeyed in a specific situation in the past you are likely to do so again even with high ILOC.

  Therefore a limitation as it means LOC is only helpful at explaining a narrow range of new situations.