Latane's social impact theory (pack 1 obedience)

Question 1

what does SIT look at?

Answer 1

how likely we are to be influenced by others

Question 2

what does this theory suggest?

Answer 2

the presence of others causes changes (behavioural, cognitive and emotional) in a person

Question 3

Who is the target?

Answer 3

the person being impacted upon

Question 4

Who is the source?

Answer 4

the person doing the influencing

Question 5

what does the theory state?

Answer 5

the likelihood that a person will respond to social influence will increase with 3 factors

Question 6

what are the 3 factors?

Answer 6

strength
immediacy
number

Question 7

what is strength?

Answer 7

strenth of a source determined by status, authority or age

Question 8

Who found that probation officers had high levels of influence

Answer 8

perrin and spencer

Question 9

what is immediacy?

Answer 9

the distance between the source and the target at the time of the influence attempt

Question 10

what is number?

Answer 10

how many sources and targets there are in a group

Question 11

what is multiplication of impact?

Answer 11

strength, immediacy and number can have a multiplicative effect on social impact up to a certain point where social influence becomes stronger

Question 12

what is division of impact

Answer 12

where social influence becomes weaker
(if there are a group of allies behind the target)

Question 13

what is the mathematical formula for SIT

Answer 13

i=f(SIN)

i- magnitude of impact
f- fuction
s- strength of sources
I- immediacy
n- number of sources

Question 14

3 strengths for SIT?

Answer 14

1. the theory is supported by research - ASCH, MILGRAM AND LATANE provide ev for SIN on observalble human responses
2. Both lab and field experiments were used to develop SIT , the use of these studies increases scientific credibility and standardised proc. cause and effect
3. uses mathematical formula, theory is useful as it can predict how people will behave under certain conditions

Question 15

3 weaknesses for SIT

Answer 15

1. The theory ignores individual differences, it does not explain why some are more impacted than others
2. By analysing peoples obedience behaviour using mathematical formula it could be considered reductionist
3. Theory is criticised for being static rather than dynamic as it does not take into account how the target and source interact with eachother.

Question 16

how does the issue and debate of social control link to this theory?

Answer 16

useful as it can help us develop forms of social interactions
Latane called this social engineering others may consider it control