Resisting conformity & obedience - situational factors

Independant behaviour – acting independently compared to the rest of the group.

Exposure to dissent -minority influence. One way to resist conformity is to see people resisting.In Asch's study the prescence of a dissenter significantly reduced conformity.The social support given by a fellow dissenter provides the indivigual with an independant assessment of reality which makes them feelmore confident in their own decision, abd nore confident in rejecting the majority.

Psychosocial Identity - We are more likely to conform if the minority group is one that we see ourselves belonging to in some way. Ifwe feel we share a 'phycosocial identity' with members of the alternative group then it is much easier for us to agree with their non-conformist attitudes.

Milgram's variations gave us insight into what helps us resist obedience:

Increase proximity of victim – same room 40%

Proximity of authority-different room 20%

Disobedient allies – 10%

Education – knowledge of research