Social impact theory Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is social impact theory
effect of real or imagined people on behaviour in a social setting
Formula for social impact theory
f(SIN)
Explain the formula given to the
s= strength of source , the power of the authority given can have a significant impact categorised such as levelled by social , economic state
I = immediacy proximity of the source, how close or far the source is as well as the time of the source given
N= number of source , how many sources present at the interaction
Give 2 AO1 points of Law of diminishing and multiplicative and divisional effect
multiplactive effect refers to how increasing strength and immediancy and the number of source can increasy the social impact theory
divisional effect refers to the social impact theory being reduced if there are more targets than sources, the impact is divided by the number of targets therefore the forumla would now look like = f(1/(SIN))
Law of diminishing returns says if the source is bigger than three each additional person has less of an influencing effect meaning it dismisses instead of influencing.
What study affirms this theory
Aim: obdeince at the zoo and the social impact theory
done:i by Constantine and jackson in 1990
field experiment at new york zoo where visitors were asked to not lean on the railway
reaserch was manipulated by manipulating the strength of the source by dressing as a zoo keeper 58% obedience T-shirt and short 35% obedience
the odience rates dropped when visitors were further from the person the source-
61% in the same room 7% when adjeamnt room- testing for immediancy
division effect - obedience was far more complied in smaller groups opf 2 or 3 with fewer targets 60% and in l;arger gropups it was 14%
proving the relevabncy of the formula
give a counter argument for the research done by jackson and conbstanine 1990
a field experiment meaning they did not the ability to manipulate the number of people in each group decreasing internal validity
this is because people that the people whop chose to go around in larger groups many all be naturally less obedient personalities a confounding variable
meaning the levels of obedience didn’t necessarily depend on the size of the group alone
Describe , explain the effects of immediacy done by another research
done- 1966 Hofling
aims - test for immediacy in social impact theory
procedure - an unknown doctor to telephone 22 nurses and asks each one of them to administer an overdose of a drug
results-
95% nurses vegan to administer the drug (they were stopped)
although doctor was not in immediate proximity nurses still complied .
challenges social impact theory
however there isn’t one done with a doctor being there to compare so there’s lac k of validity to this as well.
applications to the social impact theory
Social impact theory can be applied in modern politics governments enhance their social influence
politics increase their influence with effective style of communication to
the given targets , they increase their immediacy by reaching voters face to face rather than Tv or radio.
Addressing smaller groups rather than larger to diminish the division effect. This represents how psychological knowledge is applied in real life society to engage and influence peoples behaviour.
This theory is recognised a reductionist bc it reduces the complexity of humans , their subjective or objective life experiences , personal bias , feelings and thoughts meaning you cannot necessarily quantify these variables numerically they cannot be controlled.
