Evaluating resistance to social influence - social support

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Evaluating resistance to social influence - social support

Advantages

  • Real world support - Albrecht evaluated an American programme for pregnant teens to resist the pressure to smoke. The girls were given a buddy who supported them. The girls who were given a buddy were significantly less likely to smoke compared to the group without. This shows that social support is important to resisting conformity.
  • Research for dissenters - Gamson’s study in which grouped participants were asked to falsify data for a smear campaign showed high levels of resistance. This may have been due to the participants being in groups and being able to discuss. This shows the importance of social support as it is able to undermine the legitimacy of authority.

Disadvantages

  • Social support may not always help - Asch-style study in which dissenting confederate had “good” eyesight or “bad” eyesight framed by thick glasses. When the confederate could see well, 64% of participants did not conform, as opposed to the 3% in control group. The poor eyesight group only had 36% resistance, showing that support may not always be helpful

Evaluation

Overall the social support theory is strong as it has evidence of working in the real world. It may have some disadvantages, for example not being effective in some circumstances. 

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