minority influence

Question 1

consistency

Answer 1

if minority adopt consistent approach, others reassess situation and consider issue more carefully

Question 2

commitment

Answer 2

suggests certainty, confidence and courage in face of hostile majority - greater commitment may persuade majority group to take them seriously or even convert to minority position

augmentation principle - engaging in extreme activities to show commitment

Question 3

flexibility

Answer 3

more effective at changing majority than rigidity of arguments - must negotiate their position rather than try to enforce it

Question 4

moscovici et al

Answer 4

groups of 4 naive participants and minority of 2 confederates shown blue slides that varied in intensity and were asked to judge colour of each slide

consistent experimental condition: confederates repeatedly called blue slides green

inconsistent condition: confederates said green on ⅔ trials

control condition of 6 naive participants and no conditions they answered blue throughout

consistent minority influenced naive participants on over 8% of trials, inconsistent minority exerted little influence.

Question 5

evaluation - research support for flexibility

Answer 5

nemeth and brilmayer - support for flexibility in simulated jury situation - group members discussed amount of compensation to be paid to someone involved in an accident

when confederate said alternative POV and refused to change his position it had no effect on group members.
confederate who compromised exerted influence on rest of group

however influence was only evident in those who shifted late in negotiations (showed flexibility) rather than earlier (perceived as having ‘caved in’ to the majority) - suggests flexibility only effective at changing majority opinion in certain situations

Question 6

evaluation - real value of minority influence

Answer 6

nemeth - dissent in form of minority opinion opens the mind - as a result of exposure to minority position, people search for info, consider more options, make better decisions and are more creative. dissenters liberate people to say what they believe and stimulate divergent and creative thought even where they’re wrong