Lesson 4.1.1.6

4.1.1.6 Resisting social influence and minority influence Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.1.1.6, Resisting social influence and minority influence: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Psychology (7182), Unit 1: Introductory topics in Psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which explanation of resisting social influence refers to the support of another person who does not conform?

    • Flexibility
    • Social support
    • Locus of control
    • Commitment

  2. What did Asch's research show about the effect of a dissenting ally on conformity?

    • Conformity only changed when the dissenter was older than the participant
    • Conformity was unchanged by the presence of any other dissenter
    • Conformity fell sharply when one other person gave the correct answer
    • Conformity rose when one other person gave the correct answer

  3. Which type of locus of control is linked to greater resistance to social influence?

    • Internal locus of control
    • Fixed locus of control
    • External locus of control
    • Shared locus of control

  4. A person who believes that outcomes depend mainly on their own actions is described as having which locus of control?

    • External
    • Authoritarian
    • Internal
    • Dispositional

  5. Which statement best describes the difference between internal and external locus of control in relation to resisting influence?

    • Internal locus of control is linked to more resistance, while external locus of control is linked to more conformity
    • Locus of control has no link with conformity or resistance
    • Internal locus of control is linked to more conformity, while external locus of control is linked to more resistance
    • Both internal and external locus of control produce the same level of resistance

  6. Which feature of minority influence is described as consistency?

    • The minority is always larger than the majority
    • The minority depends on a single authority figure for its view
    • The minority changes its view to fit the majority
    • The minority keeps the same view over time and across situations

  7. What does the commitment feature of minority influence refer to?

    • The minority is willing to adopt the majority's view when pressured
    • The minority is chosen by an authority figure to speak for the group
    • The minority shows dedication to its view, even when under pressure
    • The minority always gives in after the first disagreement

  8. Which feature of minority influence is described as flexibility?

    • The minority is willing to consider the views of the majority and adjust its position
    • The minority ignores the majority's views completely, and treats every point made by the majority as irrelevant to the issue
    • The minority never changes its position under any circumstances, even when the majority presents strong and reasonable arguments
    • The minority is always the same size as the majority, so the two groups have equal numbers of members in every discussion

  9. In Moscovici's research on minority influence, which feature was linked to greater influence on the majority?

    • Changing position after each trial
    • Being the most senior member of the group
    • Being absent from the group discussion
    • Consistency over time

  10. Which process is most typical of minority influence according to the spec?

    • Agentic shift of responsibility
    • Compliance, where majority members publicly agree with the minority only
    • Internalisation, where majority members privately adopt the minority's view
    • Obedience to a legitimate authority figure

  11. A minority group consistently argues for a new policy over several weeks and shows commitment to it. Which feature of minority influence is most clearly shown?

    • Locus of control
    • Consistency and commitment
    • Social support from an authority figure
    • Flexibility only

  12. A minority is seen as too inflexible because it refuses to consider any points made by the majority. What is the likely effect on its influence?

    • Its influence is likely to increase, since inflexibility shows strong authority
    • Its influence is likely to be reduced, since flexibility is part of effective minority influence
    • Its influence is likely to disappear entirely as the majority obeys it
    • Its influence is unchanged, since flexibility has no effect on influence

  13. Which result would best support the claim that consistency increases minority influence?

    • Majority members changed their view only when an authority figure told them to, whatever the minority did during the discussion
    • Majority members changed their view more when the minority changed its view from trial to trial, showing that flexibility is key
    • Majority members changed their view more when the minority was consistent than when it changed its view from trial to trial
    • Majority members never changed their view regardless of minority behaviour, because they were fully committed to their own position

  14. Which evaluation point applies to research on social support as a way of resisting conformity?

    • Social support is the same as obedience to an authority figure
    • Social support in lab studies may not reflect the complexity of real social pressure
    • Social support has been shown to have no effect on conformity in any study
    • Social support only works when the group is very large

  15. Which evaluation point applies to the research on locus of control as a resistance factor?

    • Locus of control has been measured using brain scans of all participants, which showed the direct effect on how people resist
    • Locus of control is measured using questionnaires, which rely on self-report and may be affected by social desirability
    • Locus of control only applies to children aged under five, since it is a developmental stage that ends at school age
    • Locus of control has no effect on conformity at any level, so the measure does not predict how people respond to pressure

  16. Why might minority influence lead to internalisation rather than compliance?

    • Majority members are forced to publicly agree with the minority
    • Majority members only follow the minority when a leader orders them to
    • Majority members think about the minority's view and may privately change their beliefs
    • Majority members are paid by the minority to agree

  17. A psychologist claims that minority influence is indirect. Which explanation best supports this view?

    • The majority may change its views without openly admitting that the minority influenced them
    • The majority is always openly persuaded by the minority, and admits in public that the minority has changed its view
    • The minority always wins a public vote with the majority, because the majority is persuaded by its strong arguments
    • The minority uses threats to change the majority's views, and the majority then complies to avoid further punishment

  18. A school council has a minority of students who consistently argue for a longer lunch break. Which concept best explains a later shift in the council's view?

    • Locus of control, because the council members believe they control the outcome and so resist any new proposals from students
    • Minority influence, because the consistent minority encourages the majority to think about the issue
    • Compliance, because the majority is publicly agreeing with a friend to avoid conflict, while privately keeping its original view
    • Obedience, because the council is following the principal's instruction, which carries the authority to direct its decisions

  19. A participant in a conformity study has a supportive partner who also resists the majority. What is the most likely effect on the participant's conformity?

    • Conformity is likely to fall, because social support helps resist the majority
    • Conformity is likely to rise, because two people form a stronger majority
    • Conformity rises only when the partner is an authority figure
    • Conformity is unaffected, because support has no effect

  20. A psychologist finds that minority influence is more effective when the minority is consistent, committed and flexible. What is the best interpretation?

    • These features show that minorities are always more powerful than majorities
    • These features mean the majority must obey the minority in every case
    • These three features together make a minority seem reasonable and credible to the majority
    • These features make the minority seem to be an authority figure to the majority

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