Obedience - Social Impact Theory

Question 1

Multiplicative Effect

Answer 1

Impact = f(SIN) 
I = Impact 
S = Strength 
I = Immediacy 
N = Number of Sources 

Latane (1981)

Question 2

Divisional Effect

Answer 2

Social impact is reduced if there are more targets than sources.
Impact = f(1/SIN)

Question 3

Law of Diminishing Returns

Answer 3

Each additional source has less of an effect after it is greater than 3

Question 4

SODA

Answer 4

S - Sedikides & Jackson (1990) // New York Zookeeper telling people not to lean on railing // Strength, Immediacy & Number manipulated: Zoo-Keeper (58%), T-Shirt & Shorts (35%), Adjacent Room (7%), Group of 5 or 6 (14%)
O - Field experiment // couldn’t manipulate number of people in each group therefore less internal validity. People in larger groups may have less obedient personalities (confounding variable)
D - Immediacy not as important as strength // Hofling et al. (1966) Unknown doctor phones to give an overdose // 95% obedience when SIT suggests it should be much lower
A - Enhancing social influence // Political leaders: Strong & Persuasive tone (S), Face-to-face (I), Smaller Groups (Divisional Effect)

Question 5

SIT Conclusion

Answer 5

Supported by research studies (Sedikides & Jackson 19990), highlighting importance of strength, immediacy and number in predicting obedience. However, other results (Hofling 1966) suggest that there isn’t a simple formula that can be applied - in fact, this is a rather reductionist approach to social psychology.