AS Psychology: 1.8 - Social Influence: Resistance to Social Influence
What is continuum in terms of LOC?
People differ in the way that they explain their successes and failures but it isn't simply a matter of being internal or external. There is a continuum with high internal LOC at one end and high external LOC at the other end of the continuum, with low internal and low external lying in between.
How does LOC affect resistance to social influence?
People who have an internal LOC are more likely to be able to resist pressures to conform or obey. This is due to the fact that that if a person takes personal responsibility for their actions and experiences then they are more likely to base decisions and therefore resist pressures from others. Personality traits such as being more self-confident, more intelligent and having less need for social approval also helps with this.
What is resistance to social influence?
Refers to the ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey authority. This ability to withstand social pressure is influenced by both situational and dispositional factors.
What is the locus of control?
Refers to the sense we each have about what directs events in our lives. Internals believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them (internal locus of control). Externals believe it is mainly a matter of luck or other outside forces (external locus of control).
What is social support?
The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others do the same. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
How can social support help people resist conformity?
The pressure to conform is lowered if there are people present who are not conforming. As in Asch's research, the person not conforming does not have to be giving the "right" answer, but the fact that someone else is not following the majority appears to enable a person to be free to follow their own conscience, as the other person acts as a model.
How can social support help people resist obedience?
The pressure to obey can be reduced if there is another person who is seen to disobey. In one of Milgram's variation the rate of obedience dropped from 65% to 10% when the genuine participant was joined by a disobedient confederate. P may not follow the disobedient person's behaviour but the point is that the other person's disobedience acts as a "model" for the participant to copy that frees him to act from his conscience.
Who proposed the concept of the locus of control, and when?
Julian Rotter (1966).
How is supporting evidence a strength of the role of dissenting peers in resisting conformity?
-Allen and Levine (1971) found that conformity decreased when there was one dissenter in an Asch-type study. -Supports the view that resistance is not just motivated by following others but enables people to be free from group pressure.
How is supporting evidence a strength of the role of dissenting peers in resisting obedience?
-Evidence supporting role of dissenting peers in resistance to obedience. -Gamson et al (1982) found higher levels of obedience in study than Milgram as p's were in groups. 29 out of 33 p's (88%) rebelled. Shows that peer support is linked to greater resistance.
How is research support for the link between LOC and resistance to obedience a strength of the explanation?
-Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's baseline study and measured whether p's were internals/ externals. -Found that 37% of internals did not continue to highest shock level, whereas only 23% of externals did not continue. -Internals have greater resistance to obedience. Increases validity of LOC and our confidence that it can explain resistance.
How is contradictory research a limitation of LOC?
-Not all research supports LOC: Twenge et al (2004) analysed data from LOC studies over 40 yrs. -Showed people have become more resistant to obedience but also more external. -If resistance were linked to internal LOC, people should have become more internal but it is actually the opposite. -Challenges link between internal LOC and increasing resistant behaviour. -Possible that results due to changing society where many things are out of personal control.
How is the fact that LOC has a limited role in resisting social influence a limitation of the concept?
-Role of LOC in resistance to SI may have been exaggerated. -Rotter (1982) points out LOC only comes into play in novel situations. Very little effect in familiar situations where previous experiences will always be more important. -This point is overlooked frequently, but it lowers validity of LOC as a means of resisting SI as it is less generalizable to other populations.
