is it a dampening force like an underdriven lc oscillator with a low Q?
There are similarities; however, my tendency is to say that's not the right way to visualize it.
Let's try a different approach.
First, let's ask the reverse question. What causes conduction? Conduction is allowed by free charges (usually free electrons in wires) that can move. Once we understand that, we can ask, "Why don't they move unimpeded?".
Well, the electrons are in thermal motion at high speed and they move until they hit an atom. Hence, although the electrons are free to move due to the force from voltage, they are already moving at high speed due to thermal energy, and they will collide and stop very quickly because of thermal collisions.
In a circuit, a voltage causes an electric field which puts a force on the electrons to drift along the wire, while moving thermally. The thermal motion is fast, but the drift speed is slow. But, obviously, there is a process that prevents the free unimpeded motion of the electrons, and this is what resistance is. The thermal collisions are basically killing the motion that the voltage is trying to put on the free electrons. That's why metals have higher resistance as temperature increases.
A good lecture on the explanation and a simple mathematical model can be found here. The first 15 minutes covers what you are asking.
**broken link removed**
You'll note that even Prof. Lewin mentions that this is a simplified model, and not entirely correct from a physics viewpoint. However, it is the best intuitive model I know of.