That's how it worked in Morrowind. However, Magic Resistance was all-encompassing in Oblivion. I have no idea how it works in Skyrim.
"alters the magnitude of any spell effect (from a spell being cast, or from an enchantment on a weapon or staff). Certain types of poison effects are also altered: Damage fatigue, Damage health, Damage attributes, Damage magicka, Silence, Drain attributes, Drain magicka, Drain health, Drain fatigue, and Burden poisons ARE resisted by resist magic. Paralysis and Elemental damage (Fire, Frost, and Shock damage) poisons ARE NOT resisted by resist magic. In other words, all spells are resisted by Resist Magic and all poisons except for Paralysis and Fire/Frost/Shock Damage are resisted by Resist Magic, but since NPCs don't use Fire/Frost/Shock poisons players don't have to worry about them."
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Magical_Effects#Resistances_and_Weaknesses


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