Obedience: Social Impact Theory (Situational) Flashcards
Define ‘sources’.
A person providing the influence.
Define ‘targets’.
Those who are being influenced.
What three factors impact the influence of a source?
1) Number
2) Power
3) Proximity
Give an example of how number can affect the influence of an individual.
The more students there are in a social situation the less the social impact of the teacher.
Give an example of how power can affect the influence of an individual.
A boss is seen as an authority figure due to their level of expertise, this means they have a higher influence over their employees and so a greater social impact.
Give an example of how proximity can affect the influence of an individual.
If a teacher emails a student about their homework they’re less likely to complete it as opposed to being told in person.
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.
P - Hofling’s study supports
E - 95% of nurses obeyed instructions of the ‘doctor’
E - And so recognises the power aspect of the theory, as well as number due to the direct request of 1 on 1 contact
P - Milgram’s variations supports
E - Rebellious stooges, telephonic instructions, and run down office block
E - The large number of people rebelling reduced the social impact, the experimenter wasn’t within close proximity, and the environment was familiar and so not intimidating which reduced power
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate a ‘how’ point.
P - Milgram’s study has low validity
E - Due to the lab conditions it was carried out in whereby the teacher and learner were in a room with an experimenter administering electric shocks to the learner on the other side of a wall
E - Therefore lacks mundane realism of things that people obey and so is less credible
Does social impact theory have applications?
P - Yes
E - It can help explain the events of WW2 whereby there were a vast number of people obeying Hitler, he had guards patrolling to increase proximity, and used propaganda to exercise power
E - Therefore can be applied to other situations in life
Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘credibility’ points.
P - The theory is reductionist
E - It assumes that social behaviour can be understood purely in terms of the interaction of individuals
E - And so ignores other factors people use to be obedient such as dispositional factors
P - It doesn’t specifically look at obedience
E - It studies the influence of groups on behaviour
E - Only the features of obedience that involve groups are addressed