Social Impact Theory

Question 1

What is social impact theory

Answer 1

A theory that uses mathematical equations to predict the level of social impact creates by a specific social situations

Question 2

Strengths and weaknesses of social impact theory

Answer 2

Strengths:

• using maths form predictions to help society can be made and in turn control obedience
• reliability
• formula should be generalisable to different cultures as social impact theory claims that features they highlight are present in all groups

Weaknesses:

• doesn’t take into ac reciprocal affect of individual on social environment
• features of individual such as how easily persuaded aren’t taken into account
• theory discusses social influence generally

Question 3

Social impact theory as a theory of obedience

Answer 3

SIMP looks at social imp in general not just obedience and helps explain why presence of others affects obedience however it can’t explain why a change of setting affects obedience

Obedience is a beh someone in response to someone else in a specific situation and is not about influence of groups on behaviour so only feature of obedience that involve groups are addressed