Social support explanation - A study by Vernon Allen and
John Levine (1971) showed that social support can help Contradictory research - One limitation is evidence that
individuals to resist the influence of a group. In an Asch- challenges the link between LOC and resistance. For
type task, when the dissenter was someone with example, Jean Twenge et al. (2004) analysed data from
apparently good eyesight, 64% of genuine participants American locus of control studies conducted over a 40-year
refused to conform. When there was no supporter at all period (from 1960 to 2002). The data showed that, over
only 3% of participants resisted. However, the study also this time span, people became more resistant to obedience
showed that social support does not always help. This is but also more external. This is a surprising outcome. If
because when the dissenter had obviously poor eyesight resistance is linked to an internal locus of control, we would
(thick glasses) resistance was only 36%. expect people to have become more internal. This suggests
that locus of control is not a valid explanation of how
people resist social influence.
Research support - One strength is research evidence to Limited role of LOC - Many studies (e.g. Holland 1967)
support the link between LOC and resistance to obedience. show that having an internal LOC is linked with being able
Charles Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's baseline study to resist social influence. However, Rotter (1982) points out
and measured whether participants were internals or that LOC is not necessarily the most important factor in
externals. He found that 37% of internals did not continue determining whether someone resists social influence.
to the highest shock level (i.e. they showed some LOC's role depends on the situation. A person's LOC only
resistance), whereas only 23% of externals did not significantly affects their behaviour in new situations.
continue. In other words, internals showed greater If you have conformed or obeyed in a specific situation in
resistance to authority in a Milgram-type situation. the past, the chances are you will do so again in that
This shows that resistance is at least partly related to LOC, situation regardless of whether you have a high internal or
which increases the validity of LOC as an explanation of high external LOC.
disobedience.
John Levine (1971) showed that social support can help Contradictory research - One limitation is evidence that
individuals to resist the influence of a group. In an Asch- challenges the link between LOC and resistance. For
type task, when the dissenter was someone with example, Jean Twenge et al. (2004) analysed data from
apparently good eyesight, 64% of genuine participants American locus of control studies conducted over a 40-year
refused to conform. When there was no supporter at all period (from 1960 to 2002). The data showed that, over
only 3% of participants resisted. However, the study also this time span, people became more resistant to obedience
showed that social support does not always help. This is but also more external. This is a surprising outcome. If
because when the dissenter had obviously poor eyesight resistance is linked to an internal locus of control, we would
(thick glasses) resistance was only 36%. expect people to have become more internal. This suggests
that locus of control is not a valid explanation of how
people resist social influence.
Research support - One strength is research evidence to Limited role of LOC - Many studies (e.g. Holland 1967)
support the link between LOC and resistance to obedience. show that having an internal LOC is linked with being able
Charles Holland (1967) repeated Milgram's baseline study to resist social influence. However, Rotter (1982) points out
and measured whether participants were internals or that LOC is not necessarily the most important factor in
externals. He found that 37% of internals did not continue determining whether someone resists social influence.
to the highest shock level (i.e. they showed some LOC's role depends on the situation. A person's LOC only
resistance), whereas only 23% of externals did not significantly affects their behaviour in new situations.
continue. In other words, internals showed greater If you have conformed or obeyed in a specific situation in
resistance to authority in a Milgram-type situation. the past, the chances are you will do so again in that
This shows that resistance is at least partly related to LOC, situation regardless of whether you have a high internal or
which increases the validity of LOC as an explanation of high external LOC.
disobedience.
