Social Impact Theory and Social Loafing

Dr. Jayakrishna Herur

Abstract

Two psychology theories that examine how social circumstances affect people's behaviour and performance are the Social Impact Theory and Social Loafing. An overview of these ideas and their consequences for comprehending group dynamics and individual contributions in a social environment are given in this abstract. According to the Social Impact Theory, people's actions are impacted by the existence, potency, and proximity of social sources. It implies that social influence has a greater effect when there are many sources influencing someone, when those sources are nearby, and when those sources are seen as significant or reliable. The theory also emphasises how social power plays a part in determining social effect, with more powerful sources having a bigger impact on other people. The phenomena known as "Social Loafing," on the other hand, is when people work less hard in a communal setting than they do on their own. It implies that people could exert less effort if they think their contribution is less significant or if they feel less responsibility in a group situation. Social loafing may have detrimental effects on teamwork and productivity.