In this chapter we consider the issue of social referencing from the broader perspective of social influences in general and direct and indirect effects in particular. First, we consider the question of why indirect effects should be studied, focusing on the inherent problems in the study of social influences. Direct and indirect effects are defined in the next section. Then, the relationship between indirect effects and social referencing is discussed. Following this, the model of direct and indirect effects and a review of the relevant literature is presented. Our work on the family at dinner is presented in order to demonstrate how indirect effects operate within the dinner context. Discussion of these data as they pertain to our focus ends the chapter.