In thinking about social influence weapons or tools, the following provides an example of __. In trying to increase the support for their plan, Michael holds a meeting to share early (but not confidential) information that only a few people in the organization have access to. O social proof O appeals to authority O scarcity O friendship/liking
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is scarcity.
Explanation:
In this scenario, Michael is using a tactic to increase support for his plan by sharing early (but not confidential) information that only a few people in the organization have access to. The key here is the limited availability of the information. People tend to value things more when they perceive them to be scarce or exclusive.
The concept of scarcity is a well-known principle in social influence, often used in marketing and persuasion. It works on the basic human instinct that when something is less available or hard to obtain, its perceived value increases. By revealing information that is only accessible to a select few, Michael creates a sense of exclusivity around the knowledge he’s sharing. This can lead people to feel privileged or more engaged because they now have access to something others do not.
This tactic can be effective in increasing support for a plan or initiative, as those who receive the early information may feel more invested in it, and this can lead to a stronger commitment to the idea. People may also be motivated to take action or show support because they don’t want to miss out on the potential benefits of being in the “in-group.”
In contrast, the other options—social proof, appeals to authority, and friendship/liking—focus on different social influence tools. For example:
- Social proof relies on the idea that people tend to follow others’ behaviors when unsure of what to do.
- Appeals to authority involve using respected figures to lend credibility to an idea.
- Friendship/liking involves leveraging personal connections to influence someone’s decisions.
But none of these are as directly related to the concept of “exclusivity” and “scarcity” as in Michael’s approach of sharing limited information.
