The Effect of Dispositional Factors on Collective & Crowd Behaviour (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

Locus of control

• Rotter (1954) developed the concept of locus of control (LOC) and found that people differ in how much control they believe they have over their own lives

  • LOC exists on a continuum, meaning people can have an internal, external, or mixed locus of control depending on the situation

• People with a mostly internal LOC:

  • believe they are responsible for their actions

  • think that success or failure depends on the choices they make

  • tend to be more confident, motivated and independent

  • are less likely to be swayed by group pressure or to follow the crowd

  • are more likely to act in line with their own beliefs, even if it means going against others

• People with a mostly external LOC:

  • feel they have little control over their lives

  • are more likely to blame others or circumstances for what happens

  • tend to conform more easily to group behaviour

  • are often passive and accepting, believing events are beyond their control

Locus of control in crowds

• In crowd situations, people with an internal LOC are less likely to be influenced by others

  • They tend to stay in control of their behaviour and are more confident about resisting pressure

• Research also shows that internal LOC increases with age — adults become more confident and independent in their decisions

  • This may help explain why, during the 2011 London riots, around half of those brought before the court were under 21, while only 5% were over 40

Research evidence

Chiu (2003)

• Studied 306 Chinese managers and professionals to assess their LOC and attitudes toward whistleblowing

• Those with an internal LOC were more likely to whistleblow than those with an external LOC

• This suggests that people with an internal LOC are more likely to act independently and resist group pressure, even when it carries personal risk

Ransford (1968)

• Investigated violent behaviour in crowds in America

• Found that men with an external LOC were more likely to turn to violent protest after feeling powerless

• This suggests that a sense of lack of control can increase the likelihood of anti-social behaviour in a crowd

Morality

• Morality refers to a person’s beliefs about what is right or wrong, which guide their behaviour and decision-making

  • People vary in their levels of moral development, which influences whether they act in pro-social (helpful) or anti-social (harmful) ways when part of a crowd

• Kohlberg proposed that people move through three main levels of moral reasoning, each influencing how they make decisions about right and wrong:

  • Pre-conventional level: Behaviour is based on avoiding punishment or gaining rewards (common in children)

  • Conventional level: Behaviour is about pleasing others and obeying rules to maintain social order

  • Post-conventional level: Behaviour is guided by moral principles and a sense of justice; what is morally right may override what is legally right

How morality affects crowd behaviour

• People at higher levels of moral reasoning are more likely to act pro-socially

  • E.g. helping others, protecting the vulnerable, or standing up for justice

• Those with lower moral reasoning may act anti-socially, prioritising personal gain or following the crowd without considering the consequences

Research evidence

• Langdon et al. (2011) found that anti-social behaviour is most common at the pre-conventional level, where people act out of self-interest rather than concern for society

• Chen and Howitt (2007) discovered that young offenders who had committed violent crimes scored lower on moral reasoning tests than non-offenders

• Eisenberg (1987) suggested that people with higher moral reasoning are less likely to act anti-socially because they feel personally responsible for their actions.