Resistance to Social Influence

How does social support aid resistance to conformity?

Presence of dissenters reduces conformity by providing alternative viewpoints and promoting independent thinking.

How does social support aid resistance to obedience?

Observing others disobeying authority can increase an individual's likelihood of resisting orders, as it provides examples of defiance and reinforces personal agency.

What is Locus of Control?

A concept referring to individuals’ brief about the control they have over events in their lives.

How does Locus of Control relate to resistance?

Individuals with an internal locus are most likely to resist social pressures

Evaluate the role of Locus of Control

Supported by research, but may not account for all instances of resistance.

What factors enhance minority influence?

Consistency, commitment, and flexibility

Provide research support for minority influence

Moscovici et al. (1969) found consistent minorities were more influential than inconsistent ones.

Evaluate minority influence research

Demonstrates the potential for social change, but findings may not generalise to real-world settings.

How does social influence lead to social change?

Through process like drawing attention, consistency, deeper processing, augmentation, snowball effect, and social cryptoamnesia

What is the Snowball Effect?

The process by which minority influence gains momentum and becomes majority view

What is Social Cryptoamnesia?

The phenomenon where society adopts a minority view but forgets the origin of the idea

Evaluate the role of social influence in social change

Highlights the power of minority influence, but real-world applications are complex and multifaceted

Why is understanding research methods important in social influence studies?

It allows for critical evaluation of the validity, reliability, and ethical considerations of studies.