Outline and evaluate locus of control as an explanation for resistance to social influence. ( 8 marks)

Locus of control refers to how much control a person feels they have over their own behaviour. According to Rotter (1966), people with an internal locus of control believe they are responsible for what happens to them, while those with an external locus blame outside forces. People with an internal locus of control are more likely to resist social influence because they feel in control of their actions. In contrast, those with an external locus are more likely to conform or obey as they believe their behaviour is shaped by external pressures.

One weakness of this explanation is that it is reductionist. This is because it focuses solely on personality (dispositional factors) and ignores other situational factors like the presence of social support. For example, in Asch’s conformity study, when one confederate gave the correct answer, conformity dropped from 75% to just 5%, showing that people are more likely to resist pressure when supported by others. Similarly, in a variation of Milgram’s obedience study, when two disobedient confederates were present, obedience fell from 65% to 10%. This suggests that social support may have a stronger influence on resistance than locus of control alone, meaning locus of control may only be one part of a more complex explanation.