1. Resistance to social influence

2. Starter: exam questions
Explain the role of proximity as a variable affecting obedience (3 marks)
Explain the role of location as a variable affecting obedience (3 marks)
Explain the role of uniform as a variable affecting obedience (3 marks)

3. Explain the dispositional explanation for obedience (4 marks)
One dispositional explanation for obedience is put forward by Adorno (1950) who found that through interviews with 2000 white middle class students, that those who have been brought up by strict parents who tended to use harsh physical punishment were likely to grow up to be obedient. Children raised in these conditions grew up to learn to obey and develop a strong respect for authority. This led Adorno to explain high level of obedience through a personality type. He named this the authoritarian personality.

4. Social Influence Is LOC the only reason for resistance? London Riots
5 minutes
Is LOC the only reason for resistance?
London Riots
Why did these individuals decide to disobey authority?

5. Social support
Support from other people who are also defying the pressure to conform or obey. One reason that people can resist the pressure to conform or obey is if they have an ally, someone supporting their point of view. Having an ally can build confidence and allow individuals to remain independent. These people act as models to show others that resistance to social influence is possible.
5 minutes

6. Social support can increase an individuals confidence that their own view or position is correct.
Individuals who have support for their point of view no longer fear being ridiculed, allowing them to avoid normative social influence. Furthermore, individuals who have support for their point of view are more likely to disobey orders.
Can you think of examples from your own life?

7. Research into social support
Studies showing how social pressure can be resisted from the support of other people
Milgram variation: teacher paired with two confederates who either refused to administer the shocks or obeyed the order.
10% continued to max 450V shock. When both obeyed: 92.5%
This shows that if the real participant has support for their desire to disobey, then they are more likely to resist the pressure of an authority figure
10 minutes
Find an ally to join them in opposing authority figure. Milgram variation team of three testing learner. Other two, confederates, refused to shock learner. Only 10% continued to max 450V shock. When both obeyed: 92.5
Asch dropped from 33% to just 5.5% - breaks the unanimous position of the majority. Other equally legitimate ways of thinking. Presence of an ally provides the individual with an independent assessment of reality - feel more confident in own decision/stand up to majority. Even when the answer was incorrect still didn’t change.
However showed that if this non-comforming person starts conforming again. So does the naïve participant. Thus the effect of dissent is not long lasting.

8. Research into social support
Asch: Unanimity variation.
Asch dropped from 33% to just 5.5%
This demonstrates that if the real participant has support for their belief (social support), then they are likely more likely to resist the pressure to conform.
10 minutes
Find an ally to join them in opposing authority figure. Milgram variation team of three testing learner. Other two, confederates, refused to shock learner. Only 10% continued to max 450V shock. When both obeyed: 92.5
Asch dropped from 33% to just 5.5% - breaks the unanimous position of the majority. Other equally legitimate ways of thinking. Presence of an ally provides the individual with an independent assessment of reality - feel more confident in own decision/stand up to majority. Even when the answer was incorrect still didn’t change.
However showed that if this non-comforming person starts conforming again. So does the naïve participant. Thus the effect of dissent is not long lasting.

9. Evaluation Resistance to conformity: Allen & Levine (1971)
Whether social support that was not particularly valid would also be effective in helping participants resist conformity.
Conformity decreases when one person dissents even if they are not credible in an Asch type study
Resistance not just motivated by following what someone else says but it enables someone to be free of the pressures from the group.
10 minutes

10. Evaluation Resistance to obedience: Gamson et al
set up a situation in which participants had to produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign.
Obedience drops when disobedient role models are present.
29/33 (88%) of the groups dissented.
They did not want the company (MHRC) using the videotapes .

11. Personality (LOC) or Situation (Social Support)?
Social Influence
5 minutes
Comparison of the two explanations
Which explanation might be the best for understanding why people resist social influence?
Why?
Personality (LOC) or Situation (Social Support)?

12. Social Influence
5 minutes
Activity 1
Complete the handout.

13. What research could you use?
Social Influence
5 minutes
Apply it!
You are a member of the student council at a sixth-form college. You are all meeting to elect a chairperson. The three candidates have all addressed the meeting and now left. It’s decision time. But you begin to get a bit worried because the teacher who liaises with the student council is asking a lot of questions about one of the candidates. After a while, it becomes clear that he is trying to influence students to vote for this person.
What factors might make it difficult for you to resist pressure from the teacher to vote a certain way? Refer to research in your answer.
What research could you use?

14. Social Influence
5 minutes
Exam practice: independently answer the below questions
Explain what is meant by locus of control (4 marks)
Using your knowledge of psychology, explain why some people might resist pressures to conform. (4 marks)
3) Describe & evaluate two explanations of resistance to social influence (12 marks)

15. Question 1
Locus of control is how much a person believes that they have control over events that happen in their lives. This is usually measured along a scale with internal control at one end and external control at the other. Internal control refers to those people who see that they have a great deal of control over their own behaviour and will take responsibility for their own actions. External control refers to those who believe that their behaviour is controlled by other forces such as luck or fate.

16. Question 2 Have an internal locus of control Support of colleague
Prior commitment
 Dispositional Factors
Models of independence / non-conformity
Exposure to dissent.
Credit any other relevant explanation. Students may offer one explanation in detail or more than one but in less detail. There is a breadth-depth trade-off here.
Merely identifying reasons without any explanation, maximum 2 marks.

17. Resistance to SI
Describe & evaluate two explanations of resistance to social influence 12 marks
AO1 = 6 marks AO3 = 6 marks
Explanation One: Situational: Social Support
Explanation Two: Personality: Locus of Control
Plan answer – Use writing frame for extra support.

18. Describe
Give an account of.

19. Judge from available evidence. Consider strengths and weaknesses.
Evaluate
Appraise the worth.
Judge from available evidence. Consider strengths and weaknesses.

20. So…AO1 Mark bands 12mark Level 1 Knowledge of explanation is limited
Level 2 Knowledge of explanations is present but vague/inaccurate
Level 3: Knowledge is evident
Level 4 : Knowledge is accurate and generally well detailed
Perfection

21. So…AO3 Mark bands 12mark
Level 1 Discussion is limited, poorly focused or absent
Level 2 Focus is mainly on description. Any discussion is only partly effective
Level 3 Discussion is apparent and mostly effective. There are occasional inaccuracies. Lacks focus in places.
Level 4 : Discussion is thorough and effective.
Perfection

22. Getting to know the Mark Scheme… Key Terms Explained
Resistance to SI
Getting to know the Mark Scheme… Key Terms Explained
Key Term
What it means in the context of the mark scheme
Knowledge and Understanding
Showing that you understand the material
AO1
Evaluation and Commentary
Critical commentary of the material including use of studies : AO3
Range / Breadth
Have you presented and explained a good variety of points?
Depth/
Detailed
Have you fully explained all your points in detail to show the ‘depth’ of your understanding? Elaboration!
Well Structured
/Coherent
Have you structured your arguments in a clear logical order? Does it flow? Have you made links and used connectives?
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

23. Resistance to SI
Describe & evaluate two explanations of resistance to social influence 12 marks
Complete the handout
AO1 = 6 marks AO3 = 6 marks
Explanation One: Situational: Social Support
Explanation Two: Personality: Locus of Control

24. Description: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Description: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
One factor that leads individuals to resist pressures to conform or obey is support from others.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
Social support can increase a person’s confidence that there own view or position is correct. Alternatively, the presence of other defiant people means that disobedient behaviour stands out less than if the individual acted alone.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
In one of Asch’s variations to his study in which an ally also gave the right answer, conformity levels dropped from 33% to 5.5%.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
The ally (dissenter) provided a form of social support to the participant which led to them to resist the pressure to conform
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

25. Evaluation with a PEEL Term Connectives Notes P Point “A strength/
weakness is…”
A simple statement E
Explanation
“because…”
Elaborate on the point
Example
Evidence
“For example,”
Use research if you can, but does not have to be L
Link
“This shows…” ”This implies…”
Explain how the example demonstrates the point.

26. Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
Asch’s finding’s about the importance of social support in resisting conformity is supported by evidence from Allen & Levine’s study.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
They found that conformity was reduced on a task involving visual judgements if there was social support from dissenter, even if they wore glasses with thick lenses and admitted to having a sight problem.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
This suggests dissenters help resist social influence even when they are not skilled in particular situations.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
(not always necessary)
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

27. Description: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Description: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
Social support has also been shown to be effective in helping people resist obedience.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
Milgram found that the presence of disobedient confederates who were prepared to resist the authority’s requests acted as role models and made it more likely that the real participant would also resist.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
Only 10% of participants gave the 450 v shock with social support from two confederates.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
This demonstrates how support from others increased the participants ability to resist orders
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

28. Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
A strength of Milgram’s finding that social support increases resistance to obedience is that there is research support.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
Gamson et.al set up a situation in which participants had to produce evidence that would be used to help an oil company run a smear campaign.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
Gamson et al found high levels of resistance to this with 29 out of 33 groups of participants rebelling against the task.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
This shows that peer support ( the participants worked in groups) is linked to greater resistance to obedience.
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

29. Description: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Description: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
An alternative explanation of resistance to social influence is that of Locus of control
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
People are better able to resist social influence if they have an internal locus of control. Individuals with a high internal locus of control believe they can affect the outcomes of situations.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
Rotter who devised the locus of control scale believed that having an internal locus of control makes individuals more resistant to social pressure as they see themselves in control of a situation and believe they have the choice to conform or obey.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
(Not always needed, especially for description)
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

30. Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
A strength of the explanation that people with a high internal locus are more likely to resist pressures to obey is from research support.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
…Elms & Milgram, who investigated the background of those participants who were classed as disobedient in Milgram…..
…..
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or give alternative
Found that disobedient participants had a high internal LOC and also scored highly on a social responsibility scale.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
Not always necessary
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

31. Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
Further support for the role of LOC and resisting social influence comes from…….
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
…..
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
Not always needed
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..

32. Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
Resistance to SI
Evaluation: How do you Elaborate?
PEEL
POINT
Make your point.
However, there are some limitations to the influence of locus of control.
EXPLAIN
Explain your point
For example, Spector found that an internal locus of control was important in resisting normative social influence but did not appear to be a significant factor in resisting informational influence.
EXAMPLE
EVIDENCE
Explain what the research shows or suggests.
In addition, Rotter points out that LOC only is a factor in novel situations. It has very little influence over our behaviour in familiar situations , where our previous experiences will always be more important.
LINK
Link it back to your point or the question.
This suggests that people who have conformed or obeyed in the past are likely to do so again, even if they have a high internal LOC.
Look at the mark scheme for a 24 marker and answer the questions..