Obedience: Social Impact Theory (Situational)

Question 1

Define ‘sources’.

Answer 1

A person providing the influence.

Question 2

Define ‘targets’.

Answer 2

Those who are being influenced.

Question 3

What three factors impact the influence of a source?

Answer 3

1) Number
2) Power
3) Proximity

Question 4

Give an example of how number can affect the influence of an individual.

Answer 4

The more students there are in a social situation the less the social impact of the teacher.

Question 5

Give an example of how power can affect the influence of an individual.

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Give an example of how proximity can affect the influence of an individual.

Answer 6

If a teacher emails a student about their homework they’re less likely to complete it as opposed to being told in person.

Question 7

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate a ‘how’ point.

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Does social impact theory have applications?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘credibility’ points.

Answer 10

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