1. SOCIAL INFLUENCE (Minority influence, including consistency, commitment and flexibility) Flashcards
What is minority influence in psychology?
Minority influence is a form of social influence in which a small group or individual persuades others to adopt their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours. This can lead to internalization, where private attitudes change as well as public behaviour, resulting in a permanent change.
What are the key qualities of a minority that can influence others?
- Consistency: A consistent message over time.
- Commitment: Demonstrating dedication and sometimes risk to the cause.
- Flexibility: Willingness to adapt to reasonable counter-arguments.
How does consistency influence minority influence?
Consistency makes a minority’s position harder for the majority to ignore. It signals that an alternative view is available, and if the minority maintains the same message over time, it is more likely to change majority views.
What is commitment (augmentation principle) in minority influence?
Commitment (The augmentation principle) suggests that when minorities engage in extreme actions or self-sacrifice for their cause, they demonstrate commitment. This makes the majority pay more attention, as it shows the minority really believes in their message.
Why is flexibility important in minority influence?
Flexibility is important because being too rigid can make the minority appear narrow-minded. By adapting their argument and accepting reasonable counter-arguments, the minority is more likely to be persuasive and avoid alienating the majority.
What is the snowball effect in minority influence?
The snowball effect refers to the gradual shift of individuals from the majority to the minority position over time, eventually leading to social change as more people adopt the minority view and it becomes the new majority position.
How did Moscovici et al (1969) demonstrate the importance of consistency in minority influence?
In Moscovici’s study, two confederates consistently stated that blue slides were green, which influenced participants to change their views. The consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on the majority than an inconsistent minority view.
What is a limitation of Moscovici’s study on minority influence?
A limitation is that the study’s tasks (e.g., identifying slide colours) had low ecological validity, meaning the findings may not apply to real-life situations such as jury decisions or political campaigns.
How does flexibility affect minority influence, according to Nemeth et al (1987)?
Nemeth found that a confederate who showed flexibility by compromising in a jury scenario exerted influence on the majority. However, flexibility was only effective when the confederate shifted late in negotiations, not early.
How did Xie et al (2011) support the concept of a tipping point in minority influence?
Xie et al. found that when 10% of a population consistently held a minority opinion, it could tip the majority opinion in their favour. This highlights the role of consistency in minority influence and supports the snowball effect.
How can the concept of minority influence be observed in real life?
A real-life example is Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her seat led to a movement that changed racial segregation laws in America. Her commitment and consistency over time, despite risks, helped shift public opinion
What role does commitment play in minority influence?
Commitment can increase the effectiveness of minority influence by demonstrating that the minority strongly believes in their cause, even if it involves personal risk or sacrifice, making the majority more likely to consider their views.
