1.9: Behavioural style - Consistency and commitment

Question 1

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks)

Answer 1

Minority influence itself is a type of social influence

Question 2

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
What are three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority?

Answer 2

Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility

Question 3

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
What is consistent minority influence?

Answer 3

Consistent minority influence is unchanging​

Question 4

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus what?

Answer 4

Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive​

Question 5

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, why?

Answer 5

Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs​

Question 6

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that do what are showing commitment to their viewpoint?

Answer 6

Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint​

Question 7

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in doing what?

Answer 7

Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour​

Question 8

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
What do minorities that are flexible show?

Answer 8

Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise​

Question 9

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus what?

Answer 9

Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive​

Question 10

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, why?

Answer 10

Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable​

Question 11

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (what)?

Answer 11

Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’)​

Question 12

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
What is social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’)?

Answer 12

Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones​

Question 13

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, what?

Answer 13

At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few​

Question 14

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude, what?

Answer 14

At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​

Question 15

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

First AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 15

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency

Question 16

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
Example

Answer 16

For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%

Question 17

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
What does this show?

Answer 17

This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion

Question 18

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
Who is this further supported by?

Answer 18

This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential

Question 19

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
What does this suggest?

Answer 19

This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence

Question 20

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

Second AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 20

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas

Question 21

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
Example

Answer 21

For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group

Question 22

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
What does this suggest?

Answer 22

This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works

Question 23

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

Third AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 23

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation

Question 24

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
Example

Answer 24

For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances

Question 25

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.

Answer 25

It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly

Question 26

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.

Answer 26

Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird’

Question 27

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.
Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird.’
What does this support?

Answer 27

This supports Moscovici’s explanation of how the minority influence process works, because it shows that minority influence leads to internalisation

Question 28

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.
Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird.’
This supports Moscovici’s explanation of how the minority influence process works, because it shows that minority influence leads to internalisation.

Fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph

Answer 28

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that A limitation of minority influence research is that the tasks involved, such as identifying the colour of a slide, are artificial

Question 29

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.
Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird.’
This supports Moscovici’s explanation of how the minority influence process works, because it shows that minority influence leads to internalisation.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that A limitation of minority influence research is that the tasks involved, such as identifying the colour of a slide, are artificial.

Answer 29

The research is therefore far removed from how minorities attempt to change the behaviour of majorities in real life

Question 30

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.
Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird.’
This supports Moscovici’s explanation of how the minority influence process works, because it shows that minority influence leads to internalisation.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that A limitation of minority influence research is that the tasks involved, such as identifying the colour of a slide, are artificial.
The research is therefore far removed from how minorities attempt to change the behaviour of majorities in real life.

Answer 30

In cases such as jury decision-making and political campaigning, the outcomes are vastly more important, sometimes even literally a matter of life or death

Question 31

Outline and evaluate minority influence (16 marks).
Minority influence itself is a type of social influence.
Three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority are consistency, commitment and flexibility.
Consistent minority influence is unchanging and thus persuasive, because such a minority shows confidence in its beliefs.
Minorities that resist social pressures, ridicule and abuse are showing commitment to their viewpoint and are thus persuasive in getting people to re-examine their own beliefs and behaviour.
Minorities that are flexible show they are willing to compromise and are thus persuasive, as they show they can be moderate, co-operative and reasonable.
Social cryptoamnesia (the ‘snowball effect’) is the gradual process by which minority opinions become majority ones.
At first, converts to the minority viewpoint are few, but as more and more people change their attitude due to deeper processing of the minority viewpoint, the pace picks up and the minority gains status, power and acceptability​.

The first AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for consistency.
For example, Moscovici et al. (1969) asked 6 people to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green. In each group there were 2 confederates who consistently said the slides were green on two thirds of the trials.
The participants gave the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials and 32% of the participants gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial.
A second group of participants were exposed to an inconsistent minority and agreement fell to 1.25%.
This shows that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on other people than an inconsistent opinion.
This is further supported by Wood et al. (1994), who carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found that minorities who were seen as being consistent were the most influential.
This suggests that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

The second AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research evidence to show that change to a minority position does involve deeper processing of ideas.
For example, Martin et al. (2003) gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support.
One group of participants then heard a minority group agree with the initial view, while another group heard this from a majority group.
Participants were finally exposed to a conflicting view and attitudes were measured again.
Martin et al. found that people were less willing to change their opinions if they had listened to a minority group, rather than if they were shared with a majority group.
This suggests that the minority message had been more deeply processed and had a more enduring effect, supporting the central argument about how the minority influence process works.

The third AO3 PEEL paragraph is that there is research support for internalisation.
For example, in a variation of Moscovici’s blue-green slide study, participants were allowed to write their answers down, so their responses were private, rather than stated out loud.
Surprisingly, private agreement with the minority position was greater in these circumstances.
It appears that members of the majority were being convinced by the minority’s argument and changing their own views, but were reluctant to admit to this publicly.
Moscovici thought that this was probably because they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position, for fear of being considered ‘radical’, ‘awkward’ or ‘a bit weird.’
This supports Moscovici’s explanation of how the minority influence process works, because it shows that minority influence leads to internalisation.

The fourth AO3 PEEL paragraph is that A limitation of minority influence research is that the tasks involved, such as identifying the colour of a slide, are artificial.
The research is therefore far removed from how minorities attempt to change the behaviour of majorities in real life.
In cases such as jury decision-making and political campaigning, the outcomes are vastly more important, sometimes even literally a matter of life or death.
What does this mean?

Answer 31

This means that the findings of minority influence studies such as Moscovici et al.’s lack external validity and are thus limited in what they can tell us about how minority influence works in real-life social situations, meaning they have limited real world application