RESISTING SOCIAL

PRESSURE What factors can influence

someone not to conform or be obedient?

A Many of the unhappy things in people's lives are partly due to bad luck.

B People's misfortunes result from the mistakes they make. A Becoming a success is a matter of hard work, luck has little

or nothing to do with it.B Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the

right time.

A The average citizen can have an influence in government decisions

B This country is run by the few people in power, and there is not much the little guy can do about it.

A Sometimes I can't understand how teachers arrive at the grades they give.

B There is a direct connection between how hard I study and the grades I get.A What happens to me is my own doing

B Sometimes I feel that I don't have enough control over the direction my life is taking.

A You should always be willing to admit mistakes.B It is usually best to cover up your mistakes.

0 Many of the unhappy things in people's lives are partly due to bad luck.

1 People's misfortunes result from the mistakes they make. 1 Becoming a success is a matter of hard work, luck has little

or nothing to do with it.0 Getting a good job depends mainly on being in the right place at the

right time.

1 The average citizen can have an influence in government decisions

0 This country is run by the few people in power, and there is not much the little guy can do about it.

0 Sometimes I can't understand how teachers arrive at the grades they give.

1 There is a direct connection between how hard I study and the grades I get.1 What happens to me is my own doing

0 Sometimes I feel that I don't have enough control over the direction my life is taking.

1 You should always be willing to admit mistakes.0 It is usually best to cover up your mistakes.

4-6 pointsInternal Locus of

Control

0-2 pointsExternal Locus of

Control

Locus of Control refers to a person’s perception of

personal control over their own behaviour. High internals

are better at resisting coercion by others.

WHY DID SOME PEOPLE NOT OBEY AUTHORITY IN MILGRAM’S ORIGINAL STUDY?

Resisting Social

Pressures

Moral Reasoni

ng

Disobedient Models

Questioning Motives

MORAL REASONING AND AWARENESS OF YOUR OWN VALUES Milgram found that people are more

likely to be obedient when they are encouraged to do so by others (diffusion of responsibility) and they are less likely when they are directly aware of the suffering of their victim.

Bierhoff (2002) – Social Responsibility. We feel a responsibility to help others but also anticipate guilt if we do not concern ourselves about the welfare of others.

KOHLBERG’S THEORY OF MORAL REASONING (1969)

Pre-Convention

al Will I be

punished for doing this?

Conventional

Some things are necessary

in order to maintain a

good society

Post-Convention

al

Some aspects of morality

should be upheld

regardless of society’s

rules.http://www.youtube.com/

Hornsey et al (2003) – people with strongly held values are less likely to conform.

RESEARCH Perrin and Spencer (1980) found that

in a follow-up of the Asch study, engineering students were less likely to conform. Why?

Kohlberg interviewed an American soldier, Michael Bernhardt, who refused to shoot innocent civilians during the Vietnam War (My Lai Massacre). Kohlberg believed he had a high level of moral reasoning.

However, Linn and Gilligan (1990) point out that although the soldier did not shoot, he failed to stop others from doing so or help the victims. Evaluation?

ACTIVITIES 1. What factors influence people to resist social

pressures?2. In what incidences have you resisted social

pressures – what factors do you feel played a role?

3. What benefits come from people resisting social pressures?

4. To what extent does moral reasoning play a role in helping people resist social pressure? Try to include some research in your answer.