Obedience: Social Impact Theory Latane

Question 1

who created social impact theory

Answer 1

Bibb Latané 1981

Question 2

How did Latané describe the way humans behave?

Answer 2

In social forcefields - we all impact on each other in our ongoing interactions.

Question 3

Define ‘sources’.

Answer 3

A person providing the influence.

Question 4

Define ‘targets’.

Answer 4

Those who are being influenced.

Question 5

What three factors impact the influence of a source?

Answer 5

1) Number
2) strength
3) immediacy

Question 6

Impact on target formula

Answer 6

Impact on the target = f(SIN)

Question 7

Strength

Answer 7

The perceived power/authority of the source and conveyed messages.
May be affected by status, age, nature of relationship with target.

Question 8

immediacy

Answer 8

The closeness of the source in terms of physical distance as well as time.
Physical and psychological barriers can affect this.

Question 9

number

Answer 9

How many sources are present during the interaction - which will determine the level of social impact.

Question 10

division of impact

Answer 10

social impact is reduced if there are more targets than sources

Question 11

division of impact formula

Answer 11

Social impact on the target = f (1/SIN)

SIN refers to the target.

Question 12

The law of diminishing returns

Answer 12

Once the source group is larger than 3 each additional person has less of an influencing effect.

Question 13

strength of social impact theory

Answer 13

It is supported by research evidence. Sedikides and Jackson 1990 conducted a field experiment in a New York zoo, they proved the need for strength: 58% obedience when visitors were asked not to lean on a railing by a man dressed as a zoo keeper and only 35% when asked by a man in a t-shirt and shorts.

this is a strength because it supports the idea that when the source has high strength people respond with high levels of obedience therefore supporting lateness equation

Question 14

competing argument of social impact theory

Answer 14

theory doesn’t consider individual differences relating to personality and obedience, some maybe naturally more resistant to social impact and some may be more passive to it.

this is weakness because it means the theory is too simplistic when explaining reasons for obedience

Question 15

strength of social impact theory

Answer 15

supporting evidence from milligrams original study where 6% of participants went up to the maximum 450 volts when the authority figure wore the lab coat, compared to ordinary man experiment where only 20% went up to 450 volts

this is a strength because milligram found that obedience rates were higher when the target saw a higher strength within the source due to the uniform therefore supporting the equation

Question 16

competing argument of social impact theory

Answer 16

difficulties scan arise from the use of mathematical equations as the accuracy of the estimation depends upon the way in which the data was quantified regarding strength and immediacy.
this is a weakness because these concepts are abstract and cannot be measured in standardised units and may therefore be less objective and scientific

Question 17

conclusion of social impact theory

Answer 17

the use of a mathematical equation strengthens the theory through being able to formulate predications about behaviour.
this is a strength because these predications have useful applications within society as they can help tackle obedience that is detrimental to society eg when used to reduce football violence

weakness is that the theory reduces the explanation for obedience to a mathematical equation and overlook many other social factors which could explain obedience within the situation.
this is a weakness because this theory is reductionist isolating a few specific factors as a reason for obedience and ignoring the complexity of this behaviour