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Updated Mar 24, 2026

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Understanding Resistance to Social Influence

Amy Breen

@amybreen_ikkr

Ever wondered why some people can say "no" when everyone... Show more

Obedience:
.The pressure to obey can be reduced if
there is someone else disobeying.
.In Milgram's study, obedience dropped by
55% when a di

Resistance to Social Influence

Social support is one of your best defences against pressure to conform or obey. When someone else breaks ranks first, it gives you permission to follow your own conscience rather than blindly following the group.

Milgram's famous obedience study showed this perfectly - when participants saw another person refusing to give electric shocks, obedience dropped by a massive 55%. The rebel essentially becomes a model, showing that it's possible to resist authority.

The same pattern works with conformity. In Asch's line-judging experiments, having just one person give different answers made participants much more likely to trust their own judgement. However, there's a catch - once that supportive person starts conforming again, so does everyone else.

Quick Tip: Gamson's research found that 88% of groups rebelled against unfair authority, showing that resistance is stronger when you're not alone.

Your locus of control also plays a huge role in how well you resist social pressure. People with an internal locus of control believe they control their own destiny, making them naturally more resistant to outside influence. They're more self-confident and less dependent on others' approval.

Holland's replication of Milgram's study proved this connection - 37% of "internals" refused to give maximum shocks compared to only 23% of "externals" who believe luck and outside forces control their lives.

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1 page

Understanding Resistance to Social Influence

Amy Breen

@amybreen_ikkr

Ever wondered why some people can say "no" when everyone else is going along with the crowd? Understanding resistance to social influence helps explain how certain individuals can stand up to peer pressure and authority figures, even when it's really... Show more

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Resistance to Social Influence

Quick Tip: Gamson's research found that 88% of groups rebelled against unfair authority, showing that resistance is stronger when you're not alone.