Social Impact Theory Flashcards
Who created social impact theory?
Latané
What are sources and targets?
The person doing the influencing is the source and the people are influenced are the targets
Describe social impact theory
An explanation of the extent that other peoples real or imagined presence can alter the way an individual thinks feels or acts
What is the formulae for social impact theory
Strength
Immediacy
Number
Define strength in terms of social impact theory
Refers to the perceived power or authority of the source. Strength can be affected by economic status or age.
Define immediacy in the terms of social impact theory
Immediacy reflects the closeness of the source and the target in terms of space and time.
Define number in terms of social impact theory
Relates to how many source are present during the interaction
Define multiplicative effect (social impact theory)
A term used how increasing strength immediacy or number can significantly increase social impact.
Use lightbulb analogy.
Strength of bulb
How far away bulb is
The number of bulbs
Describe divisional effect (social impact theory)
How social impact is reduced if there are more targets than there are sources, the impact is divided by the number of targets and therefore the impact is reduced.
What is the formulae of social impact theory?
impact on target= f(1/SIN)
What is the law of diminishing returns?
Once the source is bigger than 3 each addition has less of an influencing effect.
What is an opposing evidence against social impact theory?
Social impact theory does not take into consideration the personality of the person receiving the orders. (Individual differences) making them particularly more compliant or rebellious.
What is a different theory to social impact theory?
Milgram’s Agency theory
Milgram describes moral strain as an explanation for the shaking and stress his participants showed but social impact theory doesn’t explain this.
What is an application of social impact theory?
Can be used to determine how many police needed at large social events by using the mathematical formulae I=f(SIN)
What is the supporting evidence of social impact theory?
Strength: V13 Ordinary Man
Immediacy: V7 telephonic instructions
Number: Sedkides and Jackson
