SOCIAL social impact theory

Question 1

who created the study and when

Answer 1

Latane 1981

Question 2

what is meant by social impact

Answer 2

any feelings, thoughts or behaviours that occur in an individual (the target), are as a result of the presence/ actions of other individuals (the source)

Question 3

what is the maths equations

Answer 3

i=f(SIN)

Question 4

what are the three factors of the social impact theory and what do they mean

Answer 4

strength - how much influence the target perceives the source to have
immediacy - the proximity in time as space to the target
number - the number of sources exerting social influence of the target

Question 5

explain what is meant by the division of impact effect

Answer 5

• the impact of a singe source is divided by the number of targets - becomes less potent
• people feel less responsible for their behaviour as the number of people increases

Question 6

what could you also say due to the division of impact effect

Answer 6

diffusion of responsibility

Question 7

what is the maths equations for the division of impact effect

Answer 7

i=f(1/SIN)

Question 8

positives of the theory

Answer 8

• supporting evidence of Sedikides and Jackson - zookeeper wearing uniform/not
• supporting evidence - Milgram’s experiment 13 - lab coat vs ordinary man - 65% to 20% - strength as a factor
• useful application - many police used in crowds

Question 9

negatives of the theory

Answer 9

• alternative explanation - the agency theory - social pressures
• refuting evidence - Adorno (1950) - authoritarian personality - enjoys rules and obeys willingly
• reductionist - reduced to a maths equation - ignores social factors