0.7 Resistance

resistance to social influence

ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or to obey authority

influenced by both situational and dispositional factors

what are the explanations for resistance

• social support

• locus of control

what does social support refer to

presence of others resisting pressures helps encourage others to do the same

can act as models

social support in studies

Asch - conformity

• breaks unanimous position of the majority

Milgram - obedience

• gives people confidence to resist authority if they have an ally

research support for social support - resistance to conformity

Allen and Levine

independence increased with 1 dissenter in an asch type study

even if they wore thick glasses and claimed it was vision issues

resistance - not motivate by following what someone says

presence of a dissenter enables someone ot be free of the pressure from the group

research support for social support - resistance to obedience

Gamson et al

found higher levels of resistance in their study than Milgram (because they were in groups)

groups of 9 asked to discuss and approve a morally questionable decision by an authority figure

29 / 33 rebelled - collective dissent

shows peer supper is linked to greater resistance

what does Locus of Control refer to

the ‘sense’ we have about what directs our lives

internal/external

proposed by Rotter

what is internal locus of control

believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them

what is external locus of control

things happen without their control

what are people with a high internal locus of control likely to do

more likely to resist pressure to conform or obey

take responsibility for their actions

make decisions based on their own beliefs

what do people with a high internal locus of control tend to be more

self-confident

less need for social approval

higher intelligence

more achievement orientated

what research support is their for locus of control

Holland

repeated Milgram’s study and measured whether they were internal/external

• 37% internals didn’t give highest shock level

• 23% externals didn’t