Seeking and resisting compliance: Selection and evaluation of tactics in a simulated college student drinking context

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the types of compliance-gaining and compliance-resisting strategies selected and subsequently judged for effectiveness by college students in a simulated casual drinking context. 96 participants in the study were assigned one of two conditions in the study: compliance-gaining (attempting to induce drinking by the partner) and compliance-resisting (resisting offers of alcohol). Results indicated that participants in both conditions utilized direct forms of social influence most often (simple offer, direct refusal). Resistance strategies were rated more effective than compliance strategies and compliance-gaining strategies were differentially rated as effective. Heavy drinkers and moderate drinkers rated the effectiveness of compliance-gaining strategies differently from non-drinkers. Theoretical implications were advanced for the compliance-gaining/resisting area, and practical implications were suggested for those interested in developing programs for campus alcohol awareness.