social support

• SOCIAL SUPPORT - SITUATIONAL explanation of resistance to obedience

  • presence of others going against the majority opinion
  • significantly reduces perceived risk of disobedience
  • gives individual confidence
• Diffusion of responsibility

  • less severe consequences
  • counters feeling of vulnerability/isolation, legitimising resistance
• Ally breaks unanimity

  • creates alternate group to belong to
• If one has a disobedient role model

  • more likely to resist authority
  • role model challenges legitimacy of authority
• Milgram - 3 teachers variation

  • obedience rate went from 65% to 10%
  • argues this was because of defiant actions from peers
  • reduces experimenters legitimacy of authority
• Asch - unanimity variation

  • 1 other gave correct answer
  • conformity went from 32% to 5.5%
  • supported by Allen & Levine study