Resistance to Social Influence

Resistance

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

Social Support

The presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey can help others to do the same

They act as models- show that disobedience/ non-conformity is possible

Situational

Locus of Control

Refers to the sense we have about what directs events in our lives

Dispositional

Internal LOC

people who believe they are mostly responsible for what happens to them

External LOC

people who believe it is mainly a matter of luck/fate

How does locus of control explain resistance?

High internal are more able to resit pressure to conform or obey

take personal responsibility for their behaviours and actions, base their actions on own beliefs, not on the beliefs of others

How does social support explain resistance? (Resist conformity)

• Someone else not conforming= social support- does not have to match your non-conformity

• Act as model of independence- raise possibility that there are other ways of thinking

• Breaks the unanimity

How does social support explain resistance? (resist obedience)

• someone else disobeying= social support

• they act as a model of dissent- raises the option of behaviour according to you own conscience

• challenges the legitimacy of authority- undermines agents shift