social impact theory Flashcards
who made social impact theory
Bibb Latante
what is social impact theory
levels of social influence in various social situations can be predicted using mathematical equations
what are the 2 types of people
source
target
what is the source
the person who emitts the behaviour
what is the target
when other people are the source of the impact
what is group polarisation
the tendency for a group to make decisions that are more extreme compared to the original thoughts of the individual members of the group
how can group polarisation be linked to social impact theory
initial source now become the target
what are the 3 features that help predict whether the target will obey or not
strength
immediacy
numbers
what is meant by strength in the equation
how much power the person influencing you has
what is meant by immediacy in the equation
how recent the influence is and how close to you
what is meant by numbers in the equation
number of sources
what is the formula
i = f (SIN)
what is the multiplicative effect
the effect of two or more predictor variables on an outcome
how does the multiplicative effect apply to authority figures
authority needs to be powerful and confident (strength)
authority needs to have followers (numbers)
authority needs to have followers close to people who need to be influenced (immediacy)
summarise Berkowitz and Bickman research on how ‘numbers’ in the equation is actually a valid reason (E in evaluation)
1 confederate was looking up at the 6th floor and people passing by craned their neck up as well (42%)
15 confederates were looking up at 6th floor and people passing by craned their necks up as well (86%)
shows obedience increases as the numbers increase
what is an opposing theory to the multiplicative effect
law of diminishing returns
that as numbers increase beyond a certain level the percentage difference in impact decreases
what is the divisional effect
the influence of a source is shared out between the number of targets and therefore one source will have a greater impact when there is only one target but when there are multiple targets the impact is diffused amongst the group
what does the term diffusion of responsibility mean
individual feel less accountable as the number of people present increase
what does the term bystander effect mean
the inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a person’s willingness to help someone in need
how does the Kitty Genovese case link to the bystander effect
brutally murdered by Winston Mosely
reported that 38 bystanders watched or heard the attack but none of them phoned the police
give the A in the evaluation
by using the equation it can be used to predict whether riots will be broke out, laws followed or if classes will do their homework
give the C in the evaluation
the agency theory talks about moral strain and the setting where authority takes place, SIT doesn’t include this as it would be difficult to put a value to the setting or moral strain, but overall shows that it doesn’t validate the other situational factors
give the H in the evaluation
the equation gives quantitative data
this increases scientific validity
makes it less subjective to bias
