As you listen to other speakers (professors, parents, bosses, friends, classmates), you often—consciously or unconsciously—assess their attempts to persuade you. The extent to which you feel that your behavioral freedom is threatened or that your choices are limited by their persuasive efforts is called your “resistance.” To determine your level of resistance, read each statement that follows and indicate how much you agree or disagree: 5 = strongly agree; 4 = agree; 3 = unsure; 2 = disagree, and 1 = strongly disagree.
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
1. I resist the attempts of others to influence me. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
2. Being urged to change my views triggers a sense of resistance in me. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
3. I find contradicting others stimulating. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
4. When someone tries to persuade me, I usually think, “I’m going to do the exact opposite.” |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
5. The thought of being dependent on others aggravates me. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
6. I consider advice from others to be pushy. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
7. I become frustrated when I am unable to make my own decision. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
8. It irritates me when someone points out things that are obvious to me. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
9. I become angry when others try to make choices for me. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
10. Advice and recommendations usually induce me to do just the opposite. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
11. I am content only when I make my own choices. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
12. It makes me angry when another person is held up as a role model for me to follow. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
13. When someone tries to get me to do something, I resist. |
| lqaH3S9Xow8apMtdI27fSiTAWS4= |
14. It disappoints me to see others easily persuaded. |
Your score: out of 100
Your persuasion resistance is low.
Your persuasion resistance is medium.
Your persuasion resistance is high.
The higher your resistance, the less likely you are to be persuaded. You may even strengthen an attitude that is contrary to the position of the person attempting to persuade you, because you react so strongly to your choices and freedom being limited. Lower resistance is associated with less perceived threat to your free will and more willingness to change your point of view.
Source: Adapted from Hong & Faedda (1996).