Resistance to social influence - Social influence [ A Level Psychology ]

Summary

This script explores the phenomenon of social influence, focusing on the resistance to conformity and obedience. It delves into the factors that enable some individuals to withstand social pressure, such as social support and personality traits like locus of control. The video examines the role of an ally in reducing conformity rates and the impact of internal versus external locus of control on an individual's ability to resist authority. It also evaluates the effectiveness of these factors through studies by Milgram and Ash, highlighting the complexity of social influence and the individual's capacity to resist.

Takeaways

• 😀 Social influence studies often show that the majority of people conform or obey under social pressure, but a significant minority resists.
• 🤔 The resistance to social influence is intriguing to psychologists, who question whether it's due to personality traits or the strength of the social pressure.
• 📚 The 'Psych Boost' app offers educational tools like flashcards and quizzes to help understand psychological concepts, including social influence.
• 🔑 Resistance to social influence can be explained by two main factors: situational (social support) and dispositional (personality traits like locus of control).
• 👥 Social support can significantly reduce conformity rates and obedience to authority, as seen in studies where participants defy group or authority norms.
• 👁️‍🗨️ In the Milgram study, defiance by confederates reduced obedience rates, suggesting that social support challenges authority legitimacy.
• 👓 Ash's study with a dissenting confederate showed conformity rates dropped drastically, indicating the power of social support in resisting conformity.
• 🧭 Locus of control is a personality characteristic that ranges from internal to external, with internals being more likely to resist social pressure due to a sense of personal responsibility.
• 🔄 People with an external locus of control are more susceptible to social influence, as they see control over their lives as coming from external factors.
• 📊 Research supports the idea that an internal locus of control helps resist social pressure, but the majority still conform or obey, indicating that locus of control is not the sole explanation.
• 🤝 Other factors, such as social anxiety, personal morality, and social status, may also influence an individual's ability to resist social influence.

Q & A

What is the general tendency of people when it comes to social influence in terms of obedience and conformity?

The majority of people tend to give in to social pressure and alter their behavior to conform or obey, although there are some individuals who resist.

In Ash's study, what percentage of participants refused to give a single incorrect response and disagreed with a large group on every critical trial?

25% of people in Ash's study refused to give a single incorrect response and disagreed with the large group on every critical trial.

In Milgram's experiment, what percentage of participants continued to the highest shock level despite intense pressure to obey?

65% of participants in Milgram's experiment continued to the highest shock level, meaning 35% were able to resist and refuse to continue.

What are the two explanations for resistance to social influence discussed in the script?

The two explanations for resistance to social influence are a situational explanation, which involves social support, and a dispositional explanation, which involves a personality characteristic called locus of control.

How does social support make resistance to social influence easier?

Social support makes resistance easier by providing an example of defiance, challenging the legitimacy of the authority figure or group, and offering an alternate group to belong to.

What is the effect of social support in Milgram's obedience study when other teachers act as social support?

In a variation of Milgram's study, when other teachers acted as social support by refusing to continue, the obedience rate dropped from 65% to just 10%.

What is the locus of control, and how does it relate to an individual's ability to resist social pressure?

The locus of control is a personality characteristic that ranges from high internal to high external. People with an internal locus of control believe they have personal control over their lives and are more likely to resist social pressure, while those with an external locus of control are more susceptible to it.

How does having an internal locus of control impact an individual's resistance to conformity and obedience?

Individuals with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist group pressure and authority figures because they believe in their own ability to make correct decisions and feel responsible for their actions.

What is the correlation between locus of control and resistance to normative social influence according to Spectre's research?

Spectre's research showed a significant correlation between having an external locus of control and being able to resist normative social influence.

What are some other factors that could be related to having an external or internal locus of control and resistance to social influence?

Other factors that could be related to locus of control and resistance to social influence include an individual's level of social anxiety, sense of personal morality, and social status.

What is the significance of the psych boost app mentioned in the script, and how does it support learning about psychology?

The psych boost app is a learning tool that offers features like flashcards, multiple-choice quizzes, and key term testers to help users learn about psychology topics, including social influence, more effectively.