The role of social support in resisting social influence

Social support plays a key role in helping individuals withstand pressure from others, whether in situations involving conformity or obedience. When people have backing from peers, they are less likely to yield to group norms or authority figures.

How social support enables resistance

• Reducing responsibility - Individuals find it simpler to challenge authority when supported by others, as the burden of defiance is shared rather than shouldered alone.
• Boosting confidence in conformity scenarios - People are more inclined to oppose majority views if at least one other person aligns with their perspective, making dissent feel validated.
• Paradox of independent behaviour - Actions seen as independent often rely on agreement from others; without this, solitary dissenters tend to conform to avoid isolation.

Social support counters the tendency to follow the crowd, particularly when someone is the lone voice against the majority.

Locus of control as a dispositional explanation for resistance

Locus of control refers to a personality trait that influences how much control individuals perceive they have over life events. It serves as an internal, or dispositional, factor explaining why some people resist social influence more effectively than others.

Influence of locus of control on behaviour

• Sense of personal agency - Those who view themselves as in command of their circumstances are more prone to independent actions, showing lower levels of conformity or obedience.
• Impact on social influence - A strong belief in personal control or responsibility can empower individuals to defy group pressures or authoritative commands.
• Comparison with external factors - Unlike situational explanations, locus of control focuses on inherent personality differences that predict resistance.

People who feel responsible for their outcomes are less swayed by external pressures, highlighting the dispositional nature of this trait.

Internal and external locus of control

Locus of control exists on a continuum, with individuals leaning towards either an internal or external orientation. This affects their likelihood of resisting social influence in various contexts.

Internal locus of control

Individuals with an internal locus of control believe that life events stem from their own efforts and decisions. For example, they would credit a strong performance in a group presentation to thorough planning and rehearsal skills. Those with an internal orientation often display greater independence, making them less likely to conform or obey without question.

External locus of control

Individuals with an external locus of control attribute outcomes to factors beyond their influence, such as chance or others' actions. For example, they might attribute a promotion at work to fortunate timing or a supportive manager rather than personal merit. Those with an external orientation may be more susceptible to conformity and obedience, as they perceive less personal control.

An internal locus generally promotes resistance to social influence, while an external one can increase vulnerability to it.

Measuring locus of control

Locus of control is assessed through structured tools that gauge individuals' beliefs about control over life events.

Rotter's questionnaire for locus of control

Rotter (1966) created a scale where participants select from pairs of statements to reveal their orientation.

Example paired statements:

• A: People's misfortunes often result from their own mistakes.

• B: Many unhappy events occur because of misfortune.

• Scoring internal responses - Choosing statements like A indicates an internal locus, reflecting a view that actions shape outcomes.

• Scoring external responses - Selecting statements like B suggests an external locus, implying reliance on luck or external elements.

This questionnaire provides a quantitative measure, with higher internal scores linked to greater resistance to social influence.