social impact theory

• What was the aim of the study conducted by Sedikides & Jackson in 1990?

  To test the principles of Social Impact Theory by examining how strength, immediacy, and number affect compliance.
• What method was used in the Sedikides & Jackson study?

  The study was conducted in a zoo where visitors were asked to stop leaning on a railing.
• How did the strength of the requester affect compliance in the study?

  Visitors were more likely to comply with the uniformed staff member than the casually dressed person.
• What was the effect of immediacy on compliance in the study?

  Compliance was higher when the person was closer compared to when they were further away.
• What did the study find regarding the number of people in the group being addressed?

  As the number of people increased, compliance decreased, demonstrating the divisional effect.
• What conclusion did the study reach regarding Social Impact Theory?

  The study provides strong empirical support for Social Impact Theory, highlighting the importance of strength, immediacy, and number in social influence.
• What is a critical note regarding the generalizability of the study's findings?

  The study was conducted in a specific context (a zoo), which may limit its generalizability to more complex social situations.
• What is the point of debate regarding strength and immediacy in Social Impact Theory?

  Some research suggests that strength may play a larger role than immediacy in social influence.
• How does the example of a political leader giving a televised speech illustrate the debate between strength and immediacy?

  Despite the lack of immediacy, the leader's strength can still result in significant influence over the public.
• What does strength refer to in the context of Social Impact Theory?

  Strength refers to the power, credibility, or expertise of the source of influence.
• How can immediacy affect social influence in political campaigns?

  Immediacy can be heightened by personal appearances at rallies, increasing influence on voters.
• How can political figures manage the number of sources to increase their influence?

  By being endorsed by several influential figures, they can create a multiplicative effect on public opinion.
• What is a critical note regarding the application of Social Impact Theory in understanding political influence?

  SIT may not fully explain how individual differences interact with social influence in political contexts.
• What is reductionism in the context of Social Impact Theory?

  Reductionism refers to simplifying complex phenomena by breaking them down into basic components.
• Why can Social Impact Theory be criticized as reductionist?

  It reduces social influence to just three factors: strength, immediacy, and number.
• What limitation of Social Impact Theory relates to individual differences?

  The theory does not account for personal characteristics of the targets that can affect responses to social influence.
• How does Social Impact Theory overlook social context?

  SIT does not consider broader social contexts like group norms or societal expectations that shape behavior.
• What is a limitation of SIT regarding quantifiable variables?

  SIT focuses on easily measurable variables and may neglect non-quantifiable factors like emotional connection.
• What is a criticism of SIT mentioned in the evaluation?

  SIT can be evaluated for being reductionist
• What does it mean for SIT to be reductionist?

  It means focusing only on certain variables while ignoring others
• How might focusing only on certain components of a situation affect the understanding of social behavior?

  It may oversimplify complex social behavior and lead to over reductionist reports
• What is the aim of the SIT evaluation study?

  To test the principles of SIT by examining how strength, immediacy, and number affect compliance
• What was the method used in the SIT evaluation study?

  • Conducted in a zoo
  • Visitors asked to stop littering on a rainy day
  • Requests made by either a uniformed zoo worker (high strength) or a casually dressed person (low strength)
  • Distance from the target varied (high vs low immediacy)
• What was the finding regarding strength in the SIT evaluation study?

  Visitors were more likely to comply with the uniformed staff member than the casually dressed person
• How did immediacy affect compliance in the SIT evaluation study?

  Compliance was higher when the person was closer compared to further away
• What was the finding regarding the number of people in the group being addressed in the SIT evaluation study?

  As the number of people increased, compliance decreased, demonstrating the divisional effect
• What is the main focus of the study discussed in the material?

  The study focuses on social influence and the factors that affect it.
• What does the study suggest about the role of immediacy in social influence?

  Immediacy plays a key role in determining social influence.
• How does the study challenge the equal weighing of factors in social influence theory (SIT)?

  The study indicates that the type of source may determine which factors matter more.
• What empirical support does the study provide for social influence theory (SIT)?

  The study provides strong empirical support for SIT, demonstrating the importance of strength and immediacy.
• In what context was the study conducted, and how does it affect generalizability?

  The study was conducted in a specific context (200), which may limit its generalizability.
• According to SIT, what are the two key factors in social influence?

  The two key factors are strength and immediacy.
• What does some research suggest about the relationship between strength and immediacy in social influence?

  Some research suggests that strength may play a larger role than immediacy.
• Give an example of a situation illustrating the concepts of strength and immediacy in social influence.

  A political leader giving a televised speech from another country illustrates these concepts.
• What is the impact of views transmitted via a non-immediate route?

  They can exert significant influence over the public.
• What broader social contexts does Sit neglect in its analysis?

  Group norms, societal expectations, and historical influences.
• What types of variables does Sit focus on?

  Easily measurable variables like number and immediacy.
• What non-quantifiable factors might Sit neglect?

  Emotional contagion and moral reasoning.
• How does Sit explain the influence of politicians or activists?

  It explains how they influence large populations by manipulating strength, immediacy, and number.
• What factors contribute to the high strength of politicians?

  Authority, expertise, or charismatic appeal.