SOCIAL IMPACT THEORY

Question 1

Who developed a social impact theory?

Answer 1

Latane (1981)

Question 2

What does social impact theory suggest?

Answer 2

• We are greatly influenced by the actions of others
• Other people, real or imagined, can influence how we feel and behave

Question 3

What is the source of influence?

Answer 3

• Studies looking at how individuals change their attitude have found that a persuasive argument can work to change an individuals beliefs.
• Even just knowing that others have a certain opinion can change beliefs
• Usually attitude change to be closer to those of a source of influence.
• Sources of influence can be individuals or groups

Question 4

What do Latane & Wolf (1981) suggest?

Answer 4

The size and status of a group will affect an individuals attitude
- An individual may change their attitudes, beliefs, behaviour etc to be more in line with those of the group

Question 5

What is group polarisation?

Answer 5

The tendency for a group to have more extreme ideas and attitudes than the individuals within the group

Question 6

What is social loafing?

Answer 6

People who are in a group but do not contribute to the groups decisions or actions

Question 7

What does Latane mean by sources and targets?

Answer 7

Targets - those who experience the impacts of social influence
Sources - those who exert the influence on others

Question 8

What affects the level of social influence being exerted on a target by a source?

Answer 8

Conformity, Bystander behaviour & Obedience

Question 9

What are the principles of social influence?

Answer 9

Strength, immediately and number

Question 10

Social influence principle - strength

Answer 10

The strength of the source can be determined by status, authority and age

Question 11

Social influence principle - immediacy

Answer 11

Determined by proximity of the source to the targets and their presence
- The greater the distance, and the more barriers that are between the target and source, the less influence there will be on the target

Question 12

Social influence principle - number

Answer 12

The number of sources and targets that are in any given social situation

Question 13

What is the psychological law?

Answer 13

The greater the strength, immediately and number is of the sources, doesn’t always increase the impact on the target, often there is a plateau effect, this is demonstrated by Berkowitz, Bickman & Milgram

Question 14

Berkowitz, Bickman & Milgram - psychological law

Answer 14

• Between 1-15 confederates stood on the street outside a university building looking up at the sixth floor
• Milgram was on the sixth floor recording the number of passers who also looked up
  (Were influenced by the confederates)
• Results showed that although increasing the number of confederates looking up did increase the number of passers who also looked, the number of passers who did this grew smaller relative to the size of the confederate group (it levelled off)

Question 15

What is the multiplication vs division of impact? (and relevance to obedience studies)

Answer 15

Multiplicative Effect = The greater the strength, immediacy & number of the sources, can increase the impact of influence on the targets behaviour - although this does level off

Divisional Effect = the number of targets to be influenced affects the impact of the source. The more targets to be influenced often reduces the impact or effectiveness of the source to change their behaviour.

In terms of obedience, it suggests that authority figures will have less influence if the target has an ally or group of allies

Question 16

Social impact theory (strength) - Application to real life

Answer 16

This theory can credibly explain behaviour in real life situations, for example Latane & Darley

Question 17

Social impact theory (strength) - Sedikides & Jackson (1990)

Answer 17

• In a New York zoo, Visitors were instructed to not lean on the railing
• The uniform of the zoo keeper influenced the obedience shown by people
  Uniform = 58%
  Casual clothing = 35%

Question 18

Social impact theory (strength) - Cappell & Joy (1970)

Answer 18

• Isolated rats were more sociable when introduced to others
• The level of sociability increased with t he number of rats, until it plateaued and became more marginal as the rats got crowded

Question 19

Social impact theory (weakness) - Oversimplification

Answer 19

Social impact theory oversimplifies the nature of human interaction and ignores individual differences (i.e - some people might be more resistant to social influence, others might be more easily persuaded, these factors are likely to impact affect the impact on an individual)

Question 20

Social impact theory (weakness) - Limited to the type of social situation

Answer 20

The theory cannot predict what might happen when 2 equal social groups (in terms of strength, immediacy and number) impact one another.
Who would be the target, who would be the source?

Question 21

Social impact theory (weakness) - More static then dynamic

Answer 21

The theory disregards the active nature of social interactions and what the target themselves bring to the social situation (it is a static rather then dynamic theory as it does not take into account any interaction) - the nature of the interactions may be influencing the behaviour