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Janworth High School wanted their staff and students to exercise more - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 3
Question 5
Janworth High School wanted their staff and students to exercise more. The head teacher found that students would not listen to staff about the benefits of physical ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Janworth High School wanted their staff and students to exercise more - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2020 - Paper 3
Step 1
AO1: Explain social impact theory.
Answer
Social impact theory suggests that social influence is greater when the source is more immediate and when there are fewer barriers to participation. The theory predicts that, as the number of sources influencing a target individual increases, the proportional impact lessens. When a source, such as an Olympic athlete, has high status, it is likely that their influence will be amplified due to a strong relationship with the target audience.
Step 2
AO2: Apply social impact theory to the scenario.
Answer
In this situation, the Olympic athlete's presence at the school serves as an immediate influencer, likely increasing the exercise behavior among staff and students. The communication received by the broader group was less impactful compared to smaller gatherings, where there was greater engagement and less social loafing. While the speech aimed to motivate all, those not directly involved might have felt less responsible for participating, thus diluting the overall impact of the athlete's message.
Step 3
AO3: Discuss relevant research supporting social impact theory.
Answer
Research by Latané and Darley indicated that individuals may feel less motivated to act when in the presence of others due to diffusion of responsibility. Furthermore, Bassett and Latané's findings showed that people are more likely to engage in activities when they perceive them as immediate and accessible. Studies exploring bystanders' behavior highlight that the visibility of others can influence individual actions, thus supporting the notion that social contexts significantly affect exercise behaviors.