Social Impact Theory

Question 1

Bibb Latane - Social Impact theory - 1981

Answer 1

Bibb Latane - Social Impact theory - 1981

Question 2

What is social impact theory?

Answer 2

Bibb latane developed social impact theory to describe how we behave in social force fields all impacting on each other through our ongoing interactions

Question 3

What is the ‘source’ in social impact theory?

Answer 3

Source - the influencer/authority figure - people’s actions change the way we feel

Question 4

What is the ‘target’ in social impact theory?

Answer 4

Target - the person being impacted on - how we feel affects how we act in response

Question 5

What influences impact social impact theory?

Answer 5

Strength - how important the influencing group of people are to you
Immediacy - how close the group are to you at the time of the influence attempt
Number - how many people are there in the group

Question 6

Evaluate social impact theory:

Answer 6

Evaluation
The multiplication effect - People will mirror what they see a large group so if no one interacts with a target it is unlikely someone else will
The divisional effect - A lone person is more likely to help someone in need compared to a group of people. There is a diffusion of responsibility similar to a divisional effect

Question 7

Define Superordinate goals

Answer 7

Superordinate goals - a common goal 2 groups have and must work together to achieve

Question 8

Define Inter-group

Answer 8

Inter-group - between two groups

Question 9

Define Intra-group

Answer 9

Intragroup - Taking place within a group, especially within a social group.

Question 10

Define Prejudice

Answer 10

Prejudice - the attitudes or thoughts someone has about a group of people on the bases of sex, race or social class

Question 11

Define Discrimination

Answer 11

Discrimination - actively changing your behaviour towards a certain group of people

Question 12

Define In-group

Answer 12

In-group - people you associate with

Question 13

Define Out-group

Answer 13

Out-group - People you don’t relate to

Question 14

Define Social categorization

Answer 14

Social categorization - categorizing self as a member of a group

Question 15

Define Social Identification

Answer 15

Social Identification - adopting the norms of an in-group and identifying the difference between you and others

Question 16

Define Social comparison

Answer 16

Social comparison - in-group favouritism and exaggeration of differences to favour your own group

Question 17

Define Agentic state

Answer 17

Agentic state - someone who doesn’t feel responsible for their actions

Question 18

Define Autonomous state

Answer 18

Autonomous state - someone who feels responsible for their actions

Question 19

Define Validity

Answer 19

Validity - testing what you think your testing

Question 20

Who created Social Impact Theory, and when?

Answer 20

Latane, 1981

Question 21

What is are ‘Targets’, and what are ‘Sources’?

Answer 21

The target refers to the person being (socially) impacted on, and the source being the influencer

Question 22

How does social impact depend on ‘Social Forces’?

Answer 22

The degree of social impact on a target depends on:

1. Strength of the Source: determined by how much power, status or authority the target perceive the source to have
2. Immediacy of the Source: the proximity/distance between the source and the target, presence of barriers between the source + target, and how recent the event occurred
3. Number of Sources: how many sources are exerting influence on the target

Question 23

What is the Multiplication Effect (for social impact theory)?

Answer 23

The greatest social impact occurs when there is a multiplication of all 3 factors

i = f (SIN

Question 24

How does social impact depend on ‘Social Laws’?

Answer 24

The multiplication effect declines in certain social situations, due to ‘social laws’

e. g. 1: Social Impact will be less when the target is part of a large group, as the impact of the source will be divided between the group
e. g. 2: Although an increase in sources will result in an increases of obedience, the increase in obedience is not proportional (e.g. the 33rd source entering the room won’t cause 33x anxiety levels than 1 source.)

Question 25

What are the Strengths of social impact theory as an explanation of obedience?

Answer 25

Milgram’s Studies: In his original study 65% gave 450v, which dropped to 22.5% in the telephonic conditions. This is due to the low proximity.

Practical Application: It can be used by leaders in society to ensure they achieve high levels of obedience- two leaders need to work together to talk to individuals in small groups (social engineering)

Complexity: It is a more complex explanation of how obedience works compared to agency theory, as it refers to status, proximity and number of authority figures. Agency theory only discusses status.

Question 26

What are the Weaknesses of social impact theory as an explanation of obedience?

Answer 26

Reductionism: It oversimplifies the interaction between individuals- the ‘target’ is not always a passive receiver of command; and the ‘source’ may change their commands due to target influence.

Individual Differences: some ‘targets’ may have an authoritarian personality, making them more submissive to authority by harsh to those more subordinate

It explains how people are influenced, but not why. Agency theory explains why, saying its due to socialisation.