In Kenneth Dodge's model of social information processing, a shove, a smile, and an invitation to join a game are examples of which major unit of social interaction?

• A. Social cue
• B. Social context
• C. Social outcome
• D. Social stimulus

Answer: (C)

In Dodge’s social information processing model, the focus is on signals from others that you use to interpret a social situation. A shove, a smile, and an invitation to join a game are all signals you observe in a social interaction. They convey information about others’ intent and possible responses, so you encode and interpret them early in the processing sequence. They aren’t simply the setting or backdrop of the interaction (that would be the context), nor are they the ultimate result you’re aiming for (that would be the outcome). They’re most accurately described as social cues—the Signals that guide judgment and action in social processing.