social impact theory

Question 1

who made social impact theory

Answer 1

Bibb Latante

Question 2

what is social impact theory

Answer 2

levels of social influence in various social situations can be predicted using mathematical equations

Question 3

what are the 2 types of people

Answer 3

source
target

Question 4

what is the source

Answer 4

the person who emitts the behaviour

Question 5

what is the target

Answer 5

when other people are the source of the impact

Question 6

what is group polarisation

Answer 6

the tendency for a group to make decisions that are more extreme compared to the original thoughts of the individual members of the group

Question 7

how can group polarisation be linked to social impact theory

Answer 7

initial source now become the target

Question 8

what are the 3 features that help predict whether the target will obey or not

Answer 8

strength
immediacy
numbers

Question 9

what is meant by strength in the equation

Answer 9

how much power the person influencing you has

Question 10

what is meant by immediacy in the equation

Answer 10

how recent the influence is and how close to you

Question 11

what is meant by numbers in the equation

Answer 11

number of sources

Question 12

what is the formula

Answer 12

i = f (SIN)

Question 13

what is the multiplicative effect

Answer 13

the effect of two or more predictor variables on an outcome

Question 14

how does the multiplicative effect apply to authority figures

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

summarise Berkowitz and Bickman research on how ‘numbers’ in the equation is actually a valid reason (E in evaluation)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

what is an opposing theory to the multiplicative effect

Answer 16

law of diminishing returns

that as numbers increase beyond a certain level the percentage difference in impact decreases

Question 17

what is the divisional effect

Answer 17

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

Question 18

what does the term diffusion of responsibility mean

Answer 18

individual feel less accountable as the number of people present increase

Question 19

what does the term bystander effect mean

Answer 19

the inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a person’s willingness to help someone in need

Question 20

how does the Kitty Genovese case link to the bystander effect

Answer 20

brutally murdered by Winston Mosely

reported that 38 bystanders watched or heard the attack but none of them phoned the police

Question 22

give the A in the evaluation

Answer 22

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

Question 23

give the C in the evaluation

Answer 23

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

Question 24

give the H in the evaluation

Answer 24

the equation gives quantitative data
this increases scientific validity
makes it less subjective to bias