resistance to social influence

resistance to social influence

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

two factors to consider with resistance to social influence

1. situational= social support

2. dispositional= locus of control

social support

• the presence of people who resist pressures to conform or obey will help others do the same

• act as models to show that disobedience is possible

locus of control and types

• refers to the sense we have about what direct events in our lives

• external locus of control

• internal locus of control

external locus of control

• believe life is mainly up to fate or luck

internal locus of control

• believe they are mainly responsible for what happens to them

how does locus of control affect social influence

• high internal control are more likely to pressure to conform form anyone

• take personal responsibility and base actions on own beliefs

how does social support cause resisting authority

• someone else not conforming= social support

• does not have to match your non-conformant

• breaks unanimity

• acts as model of independence

how does social support cause resisting obedience

• someone else disobeying= social support

• acts as a model of dissent

• challenges legit aauth

EVALUATION: strength for social support causing social influence

• albrecht et al

• 8 week programme to help pregnant teens resist peer pressure to smoking

• control group + group who had a buddy who provided social support

• at end, those with buddies were much less likely to smoke than those without

• buddy acts as role model and breaks influence of majority

EVALUATION: another strength for social support causing social influence

• gamson et al

• P’s told to provide evidence that would be used for an oil company to run a smear campaign

• put into groups to discuss. 29 out of 33 rebelled

• p’s in groups meant dissent was voiced

• legitimacy of authority was reduced as others agreed

EVALUATION: disagreement with locus of control affecting social influence

• repeated m’s study but also measured if p’s were internal or external

• 37% of internals did not continue to highest shock level

• 23% of externals did not continue to highest shock level

• expectations would be that all externals would continue but some still disobeyed

• all internals expected to disobey but instead 37% did

• suggests other factors affecting

EVALUATION: another disagreement with locus of control affecting social influence

• twnenge et al

• meta analysis of people becoming more resistant to social influence, but alos more external

• expectations would be resistance to social influence would= internal

• opposite has occurred suggesting other factors affecting