Lesson 12: Social influence processes in social change

Question 1

What is social change?

Answer 1

refers to change that occurs at a SOCIETAL LEVEL and not at an individual level

e.g rights for homosexual couples, smoking ban for public places and women gaining the right vote

Question 2

When does social change occur?

Answer 2

when the MINORITY view CHALLENGES the majority view and is eventually accepted by society

Question 3

What are the 3 ways minority groups bring about social change?
(Hint: CCF)

Answer 3

By being:
1) Commited
2) Consistent
3) Flexible

Question 4

What is meant by Commitment?

Answer 4

Commitment is shown when members of the MINORITY demonstrate dedication to their belief

This can be shown by:

1) making SACRIFICES (augmentation principle)
2) being inconvenienced in some way

Question 5

What is meant by consistency?

Answer 5

minority repeatedly gives the SAME MESSAGE

making the MAJORITY REASSESS their belief and consider the issue more carefully

Question 6

What is meant by being Flexible?

Answer 6

flexibility is when a MINORITY shows they are willing to listen to OTHER VIEWPOINTS

-The majority will then listen to the minority and take their argument more seriously

Question 7

What is the Snowball effect?

Answer 7

Process by which the minority initially has a SMALL EFFECT but this then spreads, as more and more people consider the issue being RAISED, until it reaches a TIPPING point minority-> majority

Question 8

What is social- crypto amnesia?

Answer 8

a FAILURE to remember the origin of a change, in which people know that a change has occurred in society, but FORGET how this change occurred

Question 9

What happens once the majority has accepted the minority view point?

Answer 9

people may CONFORM to this viewpoint due to NORMATIVE social influence(compliance) or INFORMATIONAL social influence (internalisation)

Question 10

How can governments/law makers bring about change through social change?

Answer 10

through POWER and the process of OBEDIENCE
e.g. changing the law to allow gay marriage could mean that people may be MORE ACCEPTING of homosexual rights

changes in law-> behaviour= social norm

Question 11

How can dictators bring about change through social change?

Answer 11

through OBEDIENCE

This leads to groups of people changing their behaviour due to fear of PUNISHMENT/consequences of not OBEYING