Social Impact Theory

Question 1

Why can social impact theory be argued to be reductionist?

Answer 1

• Doesn’t consider the importance of personal responisibilty in obedience
• Doesn’t consider individual differences; culture, personality and gender…

Question 2

Outline the 3 components of s.i.t

Answer 2

Strength
Immediacy
Number

Question 3

Formula for social impact

Answer 3

i = f(SIN)

Question 4

What is the psychological law?

Answer 4

As the number of sources increases, so does social force but at a decreasing rate

Question 5

What is the division of impact?

Answer 5

Social force gets spread out between all the people it’s directed at
- Diffusion of responsibilty: More of you there are, the less personal responsibility you feel

Question 6

CREDIBILITY:
- Sedikides and Jackson

Answer 6

FIELD EXPERIMENT
Carried out in the bird house at the zoo
A confederate told visitors to not lean on the railings the visitors were observed
- Demonstrates varying social force - percieved authority
- If dressed up in zoo’s uniform: obedience is high
- If dressed up in civilian clothes: obedience is low

Question 7

OBJECTIONS

Answer 7

• Culture: collectivist / indivisualist
• Authoritarian personality
• Reductionist