minority and social change

Question 1

3 things minority groups must have to be more persuasive

Answer 1

consistency
commitment
flexibility

Question 2

consistency of a minority study - Moscovici blue/green slide (aim method results conclusion)

Answer 2

aim = to investigate the influence of a consistent minority on the majority view using a colour perception task
method = groups were shown a series of 36 slides of different shades of blue and asked to say aloud the colour of each slide (blue was correct answer)
3 different conditions : 1 = consistent minority 2 confederates always said green 2 = inconsistent minority called 24/36 slides green 3 = control condition no confederates
results = consistent minority 8% agreed - inconsistent minority 1.25% agreed - control 0% agreed
conclusion = a consistent minority is more influential than an inconsistent one

Question 3

commitment of a minority theory

Answer 3

its difficult to dismiss a minority view if its maintained constantly even in the face of potential risks or inconvenience = must be worth considering

Question 4

flexibility of a minority theory

Answer 4

must be adaptable when expressing their view - must not be rigid and refuse to compromise or will be seen as dogmatic

Question 5

flexibility of a minority study - Nemeth simulated jury

Answer 5

method = p’s acted as jurors in a group and discussed amount of compensation to be paid to someone - a single confederate put forward a minority view and refused to change it = no effect on p’s - in another condition a confederate compromised and showed a degree of shift towards majority view and had an influence on majority but only when shown in late stages of negotiation as early compromise suggest giving in too quickly
conclusion = a flexible minority considering opposing view will have more of an influence

Question 6

minority influence - snowball effect theory

Answer 6

Xie identified a tipping point where degree of commitment becomes big enough to change majority view - the percentage if opinion holders necessary to tip majority is only 10%

Question 7

minority influence strengths

Answer 7

-research support for consistency from Moscovici showing a consistent minority and a greater influence than an inconsistent one (8% to 1.25% and Wood et al carried out a meta-analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found minorities who were consistent were most influential
-research support for internalisation as in Moscovicis study p’s were ale to privately write their answers down and private agreement with minority position was greater so majority changed their views but were reluctant to admit it publicly as they didn’t want to be associated with a minority position out of fear of being ‘radical’

Question 8

minority influence weaknesses

Answer 8

-artificial tasks as research such as identifying the colour of slide isn’t related to real life so they lack external validity and are limited in how minority influence acts in real life social situations
-limited real world application as in real life there is a large difference between a minority and majority group e.g majorities usually have a lot more power and status and minorities have to be committed as they face a hostile opposition

Question 8

social influence processes in social change

Answer 8

social proof
consistency
role of conflict
ISI
augmentation principle
snowball effect
social cryptomnesia

Question 9

social proof definition with example

Answer 9

proving proof of the problem e.g suffragettes used a variety of educational and political tactics to highlight that women were denied same rights as men

Question 10

consistency definition and example

Answer 10

keeping the same point through a long amount of time e.g suffragettes dint change their position despite the attitudes around them for 15 years

Question 11

role of conflict definition and example

Answer 11

suffragettes proposed different views and voting arrangements to what was already in place creating conflict in the minds of the majority meaning people who accepted the fact that women couldn’t vote had to think of the injustice of it because a different viewpoint makes us uncomfortable so are motivated to join

Question 12

ISI example

Answer 12

those who moved to suffragettes would have experienced a particular type of social influence and believed they were right in their views

Question 13

augmentation principle example

Answer 13

suffragettes were willing to suffer to make their point heard e.g imprisonment so were taken more seriously

Question 14

snowball effect example

Answer 14

at first only a small amount joined the suffragettes but as more and more joined it became a majority and could no longer be involved

Question 15

social cryptomnesia definition

Answer 15

as a social group we tend to recall that change has taken place but forget about the steps that brung it about e.g protests and riots

Question 16

social change limitations

Answer 16

-minority influence doesnt always lead to social change, lack social power and may be seen as deviant
-issues on methodological research, rely on studies such as Moscovici, Asch and Milgram = artificial nature argues if it reflects real life

Question 17

social change strengths