Final answer:
The statement that individuals have an average scope of influence between seven and fifteen people is not supported by research, as influence depends on many factors and may vary widely.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the average scope of influence that an individual has is not factually accurate as presented in the question. According to social psychology research, like Asch's conformity experiments, influence does not simply rest on a quantifiable average number such as seven to fifteen people. Instead, the extent of an individual's influence can vary widely depending on various factors including social contexts, personality traits, and the presence or absence of dissenting opinions.
While specific studies like Asch's have shown that the presence of even one dissenter can drastically reduce conformity rates, this does not directly correlate to a fixed 'average scope of influence'. Additionally, modern aspects such as social media have changed the dynamics of influence significantly, as shown in data where a certain percentage of teens report having more than 500 friends on social media sites.
Moreover, factors such as family and school are known to be strong agents of socialization that impact an individual, and each person's influence is affected by their unique personality traits and preferences, which may be characterized by metrics like the Big-5 or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.