Social impact theory: a field test of source strength, source immediacy, and number of targets
Social impact theory: a field test of source strength, source immediacy, and number of targets
Examined effects of number of targets in the context of source strength and source immediacy for 153 adults and 55 children visiting the zoo. An experimenter (EXR) dressed either as a zoo keeper or in casual attire asked Ss either in an authoritative or mild manner not to lean on the railing of an exhibit. Ss' responses were measured before the intervention, immediately after the message with the EXR still present, after the EXR left, and in an adjacent room with the EXR absent. High-strength and high-immediacy sources exerted more impact on Ss' compliance than did low-strength and low-immediacy sources, respectively, thus supporting social impact theory (e.g., B. Latané; see record 1982-01296-001). Tenets of the theory concerning number of targets were also supported. Predictions concerning multiplicative effects of source, immediacy, and number of targets were not confirmed.
social impact theory
273–281
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Jackson, Jeffrey M.
2b0b2466-fd3d-4c70-a5b0-b80c4b4ed988
1 November 1990
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Jackson, Jeffrey M.
2b0b2466-fd3d-4c70-a5b0-b80c4b4ed988
Sedikides, Constantine and Jackson, Jeffrey M.
(1990)
Social impact theory: a field test of source strength, source immediacy, and number of targets.
Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 11 (3), .
(doi:10.1207/s15324834basp1103_4).
Abstract
Examined effects of number of targets in the context of source strength and source immediacy for 153 adults and 55 children visiting the zoo. An experimenter (EXR) dressed either as a zoo keeper or in casual attire asked Ss either in an authoritative or mild manner not to lean on the railing of an exhibit. Ss' responses were measured before the intervention, immediately after the message with the EXR still present, after the EXR left, and in an adjacent room with the EXR absent. High-strength and high-immediacy sources exerted more impact on Ss' compliance than did low-strength and low-immediacy sources, respectively, thus supporting social impact theory (e.g., B. Latané; see record 1982-01296-001). Tenets of the theory concerning number of targets were also supported. Predictions concerning multiplicative effects of source, immediacy, and number of targets were not confirmed.
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Sedikides & Jackson, 1990
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Published date: 1 November 1990
Keywords:
social impact theory
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Local EPrints ID: 511102
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511102
ISSN: 0197-3533
PURE UUID: 13b3cbca-c004-4e0d-83c8-88b01331cc63
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Date deposited: 01 May 2026 16:47
Last modified: 02 May 2026 01:39
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Author:
Jeffrey M. Jackson
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