These notes got me an A* as they are a combination of all the best AO1 and AO3 from the Hodder Education AQA textbook, Illuminate Publishing AQA textbook and my own class notes. They are worded to score highly on mark schemes as I have studied all past paper questions for Social Influence.
● Explanations of resistance to social influence, including social support
and locus of control.
Resistance to social influence
- The ability of people to withstand the social pressure to conform to the majority or obey
authority. In other words, disobedience and non-conformity
- Influenced by situational (Social Support) and dispositional factors (locus of control)
Locus of Control (dispositional explanation)
- Rotter’s Locus of Control scale questionnaire consisted of 23 questions, 6 of which were
filler questions to reduce response bias
- Refers to a persons perception of personal control over their behaviour.
Higher score is Internal Locus of Control
- More resistant to social pressure due to high level of personal responsibility. Believes
their life is determined by their own actions and decisions.
Lower score is External Locus of Control
- Less resistant to social pressure due to low level of personal responsibility. Believes
their life is determined by external factors e.g. luck and fate
Evaluation of LOC
+ Holland research support for resistance to obedience. Replicated Milgrim and found
Internal LOC = 37% did not continue with shocks (more independent)
External LOC = 23% did not continue with shocks
- Locus of control cant explain all situations. Rotter said that it can only explain new
situations not familiar ones.
+ Spector research support for resistance to conformity. Gave Rotters LOC scale to 157
university students and found those with high External LOC did conform more but only in
situations that produced NSI in new situations. No difference for ISI. This suggests that
people who do not seek/have a need for acceptance to social groups are more resistant
to social pressure
- Contradicting research from Twenge et al. Conducted a meta analysis of American
obedience studies over 40 year period. Over time, people have become more resistant
to obedience BUT also more External LOC.
Social Support (situational explanation)
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