Resistance

What is resistance?

Not conforming because of situational factors

What can lead to resistance?

Dissenters or high internal locus of control

What is a dissenter?

They act as a model of independent behaviour and break the unanimity of the group so people are encouraged to follow their own conscience.

What do dissenters lead to?

Diffusion of responsibility so people think the consequences of their activity will be less severe.

How does social support work?

Pressure to obey is resisted if there is another person who disobeys because their disobedience acts as a model of dissent allowing an individual to act from their own conscience.

Who proposed Locus of Control?

Rutter 1966

What is a internal locus of control?

People who believe things that happen to them are largely controlled by themselves.

What is a external locus of control?

People who believe thing that happen are outside their control.

Why are people with a high LOC able to resist pressure to conform or obey?

They take responsibility for their actions and tend to be more self-confident.

What LOC means your more likely to be in a autonomous state?

Internal

What is a strength of social support being a factor of resistance?

Research support

Which study shows social support being a factor increasing resistance?

Gamson et al 1982: Ps were instructed to produce evidence for an oil company to use in a smear campaign but 88% of Ps disobeyed, likely because they worked in groups.

How does social support theory have real-world applications?

Albrecht et al 2006: pregnant adolescents who received social support to help them resist pressure to smoke were significantly less likely to smoke than a control group without social support.

What is a strength of LOC being a factor in resisting social influence?

Research support

What study shows LOC as a factor in resisting social influnence?

Holland 1967: repeated Milgram’s study and measures if Ps has internal or external LOC. 37% of Ps showed some resistance is=f they were internals and 23% of Ps showed resistance if they were externals

What study is contradicting research to LOC being a factor in resisting social influence?

Twenge et al 2004: analysed data on LOC and obedience over 40 years finding that over time, people became more disobedient but also more external.