Social Influence Model: A formal integration of research on majority and minority influence processes.

Presents a formal model of social influence that integrates majority and minority influence processes within a single theoretical framework and uses computer simulations to model the group influence process. The Social Influence Model (SIM) predicts that as a faction increases in size, its impact increases and vice versa. The performance of the SIM is assessed by comparison with empirical findings from a meta-analysis of research on conformity, minority influence, and deviate rejection. The results indicate that influence is predominantly a function of the number of targets and sources of influence, both of which are incorporated into a nonlinear growth function that accurately predicts the amount of influence obtained in social influence studies. The consistency of the influence source was also an important predictor of influence; task type, group type, and response mode affected influence to a lesser degree. (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality and organizational culture as determinants of influence.

How can individuals attain influence in organizations? Prior research has identified structural determinants of influence, such as formal authority and position in a social network. However, indirect evidence suggests that influence might also stem from personal characteristics. The authors tested whether influence can stem from the fit between the person and his or her organization (P-O fit). Consistent with expectations, extraverts attained more influence in a team-oriented organization, whereas conscientious individuals attained more influence in an organization in which individuals worked alone on technical tasks. Further, these effects held up after controlling for formal authority, job performance, and demographic characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The multiple ways in which individuals can gain influence are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interfirm use of power.

Attempted to identify the tactics of influence used by organizations in their attempts to influence other organizations. The experiment also examined conditions under which organizations used various tactics of influence. 67 graduate business students enrolled in evening courses described an incident in which their organization attempted to get its ways with another organization. The reason for attempting to exercise influence and the tactics of influence used were tabulated. 20 tactics were identified. It was found that strong and controlling tactics of influence were used significantly more often when (a) the target company resisted being influenced, (b) the target firm was less powerful than the influencing firm, and (c) the influencing firm was reacting to some initial action of the target firm rather than attempting to change the behavior of the target firm. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The social impact of majorities and minorities.

Reviews 2 traditional lines of research on social influence processes—research on conformity, which looks at the influence of the majority on a passive minority, and research on innovation, which considers the influence of active minorities on a silent majority. A new theory of social impact is examined that views social influence as resulting from forces operating in a social force field. It proposes that influence by either a majority or a minority will be a multiplicative function of the strength, immediacy, and number of its members. It is suggested that social impact theory offers a general model of social influence processes that integrates previous theoretical formulations and empirical findings and accounts for the reciprocal influence of majorities and minorities. Thus, by viewing social influence as a unitary concept, social impact theory permits comparisons between conformity and innovation and predicts the relative magnitude of their effects. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Manifest and latent influence of majorities and minorities.

Compared group cohesiveness and behavioral style as mediators of majority and minority influence and tested the hypothesis that whereas majorities produce more manifest influence, minorities produce more latent influence. 96 female undergraduates, divided into majority and minority groups based on their initial judgments of the experimental issue, were asked to role play members of a jury and were led to anticipate deliberating on 2 civil cases. Ss, who were led to believe they were interacting in groups were exposed to an influence attempt by an individual who advocated either a majority or a minority position in the group. A 2?×?2?×?2 design was used, varying source status (majority or minority), group cohesiveness (high or low), and behavioral style of the influence source (high or low consistency). Results confirm the greater influence of majorities on a manifest level but not of minorities on a latent level. Both majority and minority influence were affected by group cohesiveness; neither was affected by behavioral style. Findings provide no evidence of different processes underlying majority and minority influence, consistent with a unitary model of social influence phenomena. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of member influence in an organization: Phenomenology versus organization structure.

This study explores the relative tenability of 2 hypotheses concerning the effects on members' loyalty and activity of membership influence in an organization. The phenomenological hypothesis explains the effects in terms of the influence which the members perceive to exist; the structural hypothesis in terms of the influence that actually does exist. This is a secondary analysis of questionnaire data from a previous survey of 104 leagues of the League of Women Voters of the U. S. Significant interleague correlations are found between members' average perceptions of membership influence in their respective leagues and the average loyalty and activity of members in these leagues who are matched on perception of influence. These correlations cannot easily be explained phenomenologically since the members who differ in loyalty and activity report identical perceptions of membership influence. (34 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diffusion of Computer Aided Design Technology in Architectural Design Practice

Computer aided design (CAD) technology is one of the most influential information technology (IT) innovations of the last four decades. This paper studies the factors that influence the spread of this important IT innovation in the context of the Turkish architectural design practice. It builds on the innovation diffusion theory which proposes that internal (i.e., copying behaviors of others) and external influence (i.e., complying with clients’ requirements, changes in government regulations, demand conditions, and consulting firms’ suggestions) factors drive diffusion of an innovation. The paper empirically tests the propositions of innovation diffusion theory by using three mathematical models: The internal influence model, the external influence model, and the mixed influence model. Research findings point out that the mixed influence model has the highest exploratory power. They show that the diffusion of CAD technology in architectural design practice is primarily driven by internal rather than external influence factors. This study is of importance to researchers because this is the first application of the influence models to the study of the diffusion of CAD technology in architectural design practice. It is also of relevance to design practitioners since the findings should provide a useful guide in their decision to adopt or not to adopt CAD technology.     

The effect of leader outcomes on influence, attributions, and perceptions of charisma.

This study addressed how various outcomes to a leader might influence not only how that leader is perceived but also the degree of influence that leader might subsequently obtain. On the basis of recent charismatic leadership theories, it was expected that leaders who appeared willing to endure hardship for the expression of their beliefs would be perceived differently than leaders who appeared to benefit in some way. The relationship between outcomes and subsequent leader influence was confirmed. Sacrificing resulted in greater influence, whereas benefiting reduced it. This relationship was mediated by attributions made about leader motives. The relationship between outcomes and influence was also mediated by perceptions of charisma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integration of the lambda genome in the absence of site-specific integration function: isolation of an abnormally permuted prophage lambda

Is there an influence of diabetes mellitus on a neurotic development of personality - that is the question of the present research. And specially: Are there special problems in interaction with the patient, who suffers on diabetes mellitus? We strictly have to make a distinction between the somato-psychic and psycho-somatic approach: The influence of diabetes mellitus in development of personality means, that there is an influence of somatic factors on the psyche. The influence of an neurotic personality on formation and development of diabetes mellitus means, that there is an influence of psychological factors on the soma. This difference often will be ignored. Oralic needs also can be the consequence of somatic disorders, and do not have to be originate exclusive from childhood - even if psychoanalytic oriented colleagues will contest this fact.     

Minority influence: A meta-analytic review of social influence processes.

A meta-analytic review of 97 minority influence experiments evaluated the processes by which sources advocating deviant, minority opinions exert influence. Minority impact was most marked on measures of influence that were private from the source and indirectly related to the content of the appeal and less evident on direct private influence measures and on public measures. This attenuated impact of minorities on direct private and public measures suggests that in response to normative pressures, recipients avoided aligning themselves with a deviant source. Mediator analyses revealed that minorities perceived as especially consistent in the advocacy of their views were especially influential. The relation between normative and informational pressures in the minority influence paradigm was discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of torsion on the hardness of low-carbon steel wire

The influence of unidirectional and alternating torsion on the hardness HV_0.3 over the cross section and length of steel wire samples in the annealed and hardened state is determined. It is shown that the hardness varies over the whole cross section and may be different in the middle section and at the clamps. The first two or three torsional cycles have a significant influence on the hardness. Further torsion has little influence.     

Theoretical orientations of professional psychologists and their former professors.

We present a survey of theoretical orientations of 68 pairs of professional psychologists in clinical practice and their former professors. Similarities between professional psychologists' theoretical orientations and those of the most influential educator in the doctoral program of each were investigated. Educator's attempts to influence theoretical orientations of their former students were examined, as was the effect that the educators' own orientation had on the strength of attempts to influence their students'. Educators' perceptions of attempts to influence were compared with former students' perceptions of how strongly they had felt influenced. Theoretical orientations and perceptions of influence were only moderately correlated between educators and students. Analysis of variance suggested a significant relation between educators' attempts to influence students and students' perceptions of such attempts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antecedents and effects of perceived therapist credibility: A meta-analysis.

Published studies examining antecedents or effects (or both) of perceived therapist credibility were subjected to a meta-analytic review to test S. R. Strong's (1968) 2-phase model of interpersonal influence in counseling. Results conformed to the predictions of the model, with therapist credibility cues moderately related to credibility, and credibility strongly related to therapist influence. Cue type was a significant moderator of the relation between cues and credibility. Cue types were also differentially related to influence, but this relation was mediated by cue strength, or the relation of cues to credibility. Tests of differential reactivity among influence measures yielded equivocal results, as did tests of participant involvement as a moderator of the relation between cues and influence. It is suggested that a simple mediational model cannot fully account for the relations among cues, credibility, and influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An experimental investigation of group members' perceived influence over leader decisions.

The premise that increased perceived influence over leader-made decisions has positive effects on members' satisfaction and commitment was tested in an experiment. One hundred four participants in ad hoc groups of 4 (plus 1 confederate) gave their opinions about the settlement of a civil lawsuit to the group leader (a confederate), who made the decision on behalf of the group. Feedback provided to the participants by the leader manipulated members' perceived personal influence, and the influence of the group as a whole, over the leader's decision. Perceived personal influence predicted levels of satisfaction, whereas perceptions of group influence were important with respect to commitment to the decision. Results are integrated with recent work on leadership and organizational behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bidirectionality of influence in classroom interaction.

Results of systematic observation of teacher-student interaction in 35 junior and senior high school classrooms indicate that students exert influence over classroom events and that they accurately perceive how much control they have (measured by Koenig and Hess's Origin Climate Questionnaire). In a subsample of classes, students' perceived influence but not their observed influence is positively and significantly related to their academic achievement (Iowa Test of Basic Skills). Thus, the unidirectional model of teacher-to-student influence reflected in previous classroom research is found inadequate to characterize patterns of interaction. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rheoencephalography in the diagnosis of cervico-cephalic syndrome

We wanted to define the concept of extracranial exactly and to find out which level of cervical spine has the most essential influence on REG curve forming. 919 patients coming for treatment in Spine disease diagnostic centre of Orthopaedic clinic at Zagreb Faculty of Medicine have been elaborated. According to the results, it can be concluded that cervical segment C5-C6 is the most essential according to the influence on positiveness of REG and that reoencephalography shows us the influence of lower part of cervical spine on artery vertebralis while we don't get information about the influence of craniovertebral area on REG.     

The influence of positive affect on the components of expectancy motivation.

The influence of positive affect on expectancy motivation was investigated in 2 studies. The results of Study 1 indicated that positive affect improved people's performance and affected their perceptions of expectancy and valence. In Study 1, in which outcomes depended on chance, positive affect did not influence people's perceptions of instrumentality. In Study 2, in which the link between performance and outcomes was specified, positive affect influenced all 3 components of expectancy motivation. Together, the results of Studies 1 and 2 indicated that positive affect interacts with task conditions in influencing motivation and that its influence on motivation occurs not through general effects, such as response bias or general activation, but rather through its influence on the cognitive processes involved in motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of arsenic on the corrosion resistance of low-carbon low-alloy steel. Part 2

Literature data regarding the influence of arsenic on the corrosion resistance of low-carbon low-alloy steel are analyzed. A mechanism explaining this influence in air and in sea water is proposed.     

Effect of orally administered betel leaf (Piper betle Linn.) on digestive enzymes of pancreas and intestinal mucosa and on bile production in rats

The influence of two varieties of betel leaf (Piper betle Linn.) namely, the pungent Mysore and non-pungent Ambadi, was examined on digestive enzymes of pancreas and intestinal mucosa and on bile secretion in experimental rats. The betel leaves were administered orally at two doses which were either comparable to human consumption level or 5 times this. The results indicated that while these betel leaves do not influence bile secretion and composition, they have a significant stimulatory influence on pancreatic lipase activity. Besides, the Ambadi variety of betel leaf has a positive stimulatory influence on intestinal digestive enzymes, especially lipase, amylase and disaccharidases. A slight lowering in the activity of these intestinal enzymes was seen when Mysore variety of betel leaf was administered, and this variety also had a negative effect on pancreatic amylase. Further, both the betel leaf varieties have shown decreasing influence on pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin activities.     

Genetic influence on family environment: The role of personality.

The relation between genetic influence on personality (extraversion and neuroticism) and genetic influence on family environment measures was examined. More than 400 pairs of twins were assessed at the average age of 59 yrs. Trivariate quantitative genetic model-fitting analyses indicated that genetic influence on a Relationship dimension and a Personal Growth dimension of the environmental measure was shared with genetic effects on personality. However, the majority of genetic variance was unique to these measures. The genetic influence on a System Maintenance dimension was largely independent of genetic variance on personality. Taken together, these results suggest that more remains to be explained in the puzzle of genetic influence on environmental measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)