Introduction: The Power of the Individual

In our previous chapters, we looked at why people conform (follow the crowd) and why they obey (follow orders). But we know that in the real world, people often say "no." Think about historical figures like Rosa Parks or even a friend who refuses to go along with a risky prank. How do they do it? And how can a small group of people eventually change the minds of the entire majority?

In these notes, we will explore Resistance to Social Influence—the reasons why some people stay independent—and Minority Influence—how the few can change the many.

1. Resistance to Social Influence

Why do some people resist the pressure to fit in or follow orders? Psychologists have identified two main factors: one is about the situation (the people around you) and the other is about your disposition (your personality).

A. Social Support

It is much easier to resist pressure if you have an "ally"—someone else who isn't following the crowd. This is known as social support.

How it works in Conformity:
If you are in a group where everyone agrees on a wrong answer, you feel huge pressure to agree too. However, if just one other person disagrees with the group, the unanimity (total agreement) of the group is broken. This gives you the "moral support" to follow your own conscience. You don't even necessarily need that person to give the right answer; you just need them to show that it is possible to disagree.

How it works in Obedience:
It is harder to disobey an authority figure if you are alone. However, if you see someone else disobeying or questioning an order, you are much more likely to resist as well. The other person acts as a model for your own behavior.

Quick Summary: Social support makes us feel more confident and lessens the fear of being rejected by the group.

B. Locus of Control (LoC)

This is a personality (dispositional) explanation. Locus of Control refers to what a person believes directs events in their life.

  • Internal Locus of Control: These individuals believe that they are responsible for what happens to them. For example, if they do well in an exam, they think, "I worked hard."
  • External Locus of Control: These individuals believe that things happen because of luck, fate, or powerful outside forces. If they do well in an exam, they might think, "The paper was easy" or "I got lucky."

Why does this affect resistance?
People with a high Internal LoC are more likely to resist social influence. This is because:
1. They take personal responsibility for their actions.
2. They tend to be more self-confident and have less need for social approval.
3. They base their decisions on their own beliefs rather than what others say.

Analogy: Imagine you are on a boat. An "Internal" person feels they are the captain steering the ship. An "External" person feels they are just a passenger being tossed around by the waves. The captain is much less likely to let someone else tell them which way to go!

2. Minority Influence

So far, we have mostly talked about how the majority influences us. But how do small groups (the minority) change the views of the majority? This isn't just about getting people to "go along" with you; it’s about internalisation—actually changing what people believe deep down.

For a minority to be successful, they must use three key tactics:

I. Consistency

The minority must keep the same message for a long time. There are two types of consistency:
1. Synchronic consistency: Everyone in the minority group says the same thing.
2. Diachronic consistency: They have been saying the same thing for a long time.
Why it works: It makes the majority stop and think, "Maybe they have a point if they are so sure of themselves?"

II. Commitment

The minority must show they are dedicated to their cause. Sometimes, they might take risks or make personal sacrifices (e.g., going to prison or going on a hunger strike).
Why it works: This is called the augmentation principle. If someone is willing to suffer for their views, the majority takes them more seriously. They think, "They wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important."

III. Flexibility

Being too consistent can sometimes backfire. If a minority is rigid and refuses to budge even an inch, they can seem dogmatic or annoying.
Why it works: By being flexible and prepared to adapt their point of view or accept reasonable counter-arguments, the minority appears more moderate and cooperative. This makes the majority more likely to listen.

3. The Process of Change

How does the actual "switch" happen? It usually follows a specific path:

  1. Deep Processing: The majority hears the consistent, committed minority and starts to think about the issue more deeply.
  2. The Snowball Effect: Over time, more and more people move from the majority to the minority. As the minority grows, it gains even more momentum.
  3. Social Cryptoamnesia: Eventually, the minority view becomes the majority view. People remember that a change happened, but they often forget exactly how it happened or that the idea used to be considered "weird" or "wrong."

Quick Review Box:
- Resistance: Helped by social support (allies) and an Internal Locus of Control.
- Minority Influence: Requires Consistency, Commitment, and Flexibility.
- Outcome: Minority influence usually leads to Internalisation (real, permanent change in belief).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing Internal and External LoC: Remember, Internal means "Inside me" (I am in control). External means "Outside me" (The world is in control). Only Internal LoC is linked to high resistance.

2. Thinking Flexibility is "Giving Up": Flexibility doesn't mean changing your mind! It means being prepared to negotiate and not being "bossy" or "rigid" with your message.

3. Forgetting the goal: Remember that Conformity (Majority Influence) is often about Compliance (just fitting in), while Minority Influence is almost always about Internalisation (changing hearts and minds).

Key Takeaways for the Exam

  • To resist conformity, you need an ally to break the unanimity of the group.
  • To resist obedience, you need a disobedient model.
  • Locus of Control is measured on a scale; no one is \(100\%\) internal or external.
  • Minority influence is slow but powerful because it leads to deep processing of ideas.
  • The augmentation principle is when a minority shows commitment through risk/sacrifice.

Don't worry if these terms feel like a lot to take in. Just remember: Resistance is about finding your own path (with a little help from friends), and Minority Influence is about being so consistent and committed that the world has no choice but to listen!