social impact theory Flashcards
what is it a theory of?
why and how people are obedient
what does the theory believe?
that we are influenced by others and our behaviour ia affected by the presence of others
who created the theory?
latane
what two kinds of people did lateen refer to?
source of obedience
targets for obedience
what are the factors that affect obedience?
social forces
psychosocial law of multiplication vs division of impact
what are the social factors?
number
immediacy
strength
what does number relate to?
the amount of sources and targets present
higher number of sources
what does immediacy relate to?
proximity and distance between source and target
the closer they are the more obedience
what does strength refer to?
determined by things such as age, status and authority
higher status the people will more likely obey
what is the formula that used to work out obedience/
i=f(SIN)
what doe step formula allow people to do?
make predictions about future behaviour
what is the psychosocial law and multiplication effect?
this is where increasing the number of sources is only effective to a certain point
the presence of them become less dramatic as they increase
what is the psychosocial law and division effect?
if there is a large group of targets to the source then the sources influence can be diminished
what did lateen and darley do?
that one lone person is more likely to help a man in need rather than a group
by standers
which variations of mailgram can be applied here?
number 7 (immediacy) number 13 (strength)
what is a strength about the formula?
it can be generalised across cultures as the theory claims that all features are present in all groups
why does the theory have application?
helps to show the factors involved in obeisance and therefore reducing them
formula also helps to predict future events
why is the hotter more descriptive>
it does not explain why people are influenced by others only the factors that are involved in this influence
why is the theory reductionist/incomplete?
does not take into account things such as individual differences and responses
some people may be more likely to obey
also people may switch between sources and target in different situations
what was it originally designed to do?
explain the effects of others behaviour in social situations
