MINORITY INFLUENCE

Question 1

What is minority influence (4)

Answer 1

• Type of social influence motivate individuals to reject established majority group norms
  
  • minority of people persuade others to adopt their beliefs attitudes and behaviour⇒ minority= going against tide of majority
  • can be powerful therefore can lead to internalisation or conversion (public plus private)
  • minority small but can become majority from the snowball effect

Question 2

What are the 3 types of minority influence

Answer 2

Consistency

commitment

flexibility

Question 3

What is it meant by consistency

Answer 3

keep maintaining same belief

Question 4

What are the two types of consistency

Answer 4

• synchronic

- diachronic

Question 5

Explain what is meant by the two types of consistencies

Answer 5

• synchronic: agreement of people within minority= everyone says same viewpoint
  
  • Diachronic: consistency overtime= for ages⇒ everyone is still saying same viewpoint

Question 6

What was the aim of moscovici study on blue-green slides

Answer 6

Demonstrated minority influence in study were group of six asked to view 36 blue slides⇒ different shades

asked to state if slides were green or blue

Question 7

What was the procedure of moscovici’s study on blue-green slides (2)

Answer 7

1st group= In each group had two Confederate→ Confederate said slides were green 2/3 trial consistently

2nd group= Confeds gave inconsistent wrong answers

Question 8

What was found in Moscovici’s study on blue-green slides (4)

Answer 8

• control group= no confeds→ wrong answer on 0.25% of trials⇒ proves unambiguous study
  
  • Participants give same wrong answer 8.4% in all of trials
  • 32% participants gave wrong answer At least one time
  • In second group 1.25% gave same wrong answer

Question 9

What did wood find when conducting meta analysis of moscovici blue-green study

Answer 9

Carried out meta-analysis of around 100 similar studies⇒ found minority being more consistent are influential

Question 10

Evaluate -ve in Moscovici study on blue-green slides

Answer 10

Lack mundane realism and external validity⇒ artificial nature of task→ not real life scenarios therefore doesn’t reflect true minority influence

Question 11

Evaluate +ve in moscovici study on blue green slides (2)

Answer 11

• Lab study⇒ great control and small task allows it to be replicated
  
  • using control group⇒ participants actually being influenced by minority

Question 12

What is it meant by commitment (2)

Answer 12

Dedication to belief even overtime

can be shown in sacrifice or high effort (e.g. public March) shown acting out of genuine belief

Can be shown in Moscovici study if committed= consistent

Question 13

What is it meant by that flexibility

Answer 13

Being able to adapt and accept possibility of compromise→ consistent minority that is rigid= not successful as won’t cooperate

Question 14

What did nemeth believe about flexibility (2)

Answer 14

Believed only being consistent can be seen as not flexible⇒ off-putting to majority→ less likely to conversion

instead need to adapt and accept reasonable counter argument⇒ key to balance flexibility and consistency

Question 15

Explain snowball effect (3)

Answer 15

ISI⇒ minority influence provides new/ideas to majority

majority believes it’s true⇒ causes them to re-examine own belief→ happens over time not straightaway as needs to be heard and processed 

important can be critical in bringing innovation to social change