The Social Impact Theory

The Social Impact Theory explains how individuals are influenced by the presence or actions of others. It suggests that the strength of this influence depends on three factors: the number of people (multiplying effect), their importance or status (immediacy), and how close they are physically or psychologically (strength). Essentially, more influential or closer people can have a stronger impact on our behavior and decisions. This theory helps us understand phenomena like peer pressure, conformity, or crowd behavior, highlighting that social influence is a combination of group size, relationship closeness, and perceived importance.