10) Social Influence and Social Change

Question 1

What does social influence and social change actually look at

Answer 1

Role of social influence processes on social change

Question 2

6 steps

What does minority influence research tell us about the role of it on social change

Answer 2

• Drawing attention
• Consistency
• Deeper thinking (leads to others thinking deeply about the presented issue)
• Augmentation principle (strengthening of the message)
• Snowball Effect (growing larger with each step)
• Social cryptomnesia (no memory of events leading to social change)

Question 3

What does conformity research show about the change on social change

Answer 3

• Dissenters make social change more likely
• NSI is often used by campaigns by taking about others doing the same

Question 4

What does obedience research show about the change on social influence

Answer 4

• disobedient models make change more likely
• gradual drift leads to a new kind of behaviour

Question 5

EV - Support for NSI

Answer 5

• Nolan put signs up in a neighbourhood, to reduce energy use
• He saw a large decrease in energy usage compared to control
• Conformity can lead to social change

Question 6

EV - Minority influence explains social change

Answer 6

• Nemeth , says minority influence leads to divergent thinking
• leading to better decision making
• Stimulating new ideas into peoples heads

Question 7

EV - deeper processing may apply to majority influence

Answer 7

• Mackie disagrees that minority influence causes individuals in the majority to think deeply about an issue
• majority influence creates deeper processing bc we believe others think as we do
• central element of minority influence has been challenged