Minority Influence

Question 1

What is minority influence

Answer 1

A form of social influence in which the minority persuade others to adopt their beliefs
Uses informational social influence resulting in internalisation

Question 2

What are the three key behaviours for minority influence

Answer 2

• Consistency
• Commitment
  - Flexibility

Question 3

How does consistency enhance minority influence

Answer 3

• keeping the same beliefs over time
• It creates a more powerful message and demonstrates confidence

Question 4

How does commitment enhancement influence

Answer 4

• Risky actions show dedication to the cause

Question 5

How does flexibility enhance minority influence

Answer 5

•  The minority can’t be seen as rigid (dogmatic) or inflexible as this is offputting
• A balance must be made between consistency and flexibility

Question 6

What is the snowball effect

Answer 6

• When people in the majority slowly convert their views to the minority
• The more this occurs the faster the rate of conversion

Question 7

Outline Moscovici’s Research into minority influence and consistency

Answer 7

• 172 participants tested for colourblindness
• Allocated into groups of six with four participants and two Confederates
• Participants were asked to view 36 blue coloured slides and asked if they were green or blue
• Condition A Had the Confederates called the slides green consistently (36/36 trials)
• Condition B Had the Confederate cool the slides green inconsistently (24/36 trials)

Question 8

What were the findings of Moscovici’s study into minority influence and consistency 

Answer 8

In condition A 32% gave the same answer as the minority on at least one trial
With the participants giving the same wrong answer on 8.42% of trials

In condition B The participant gave the wrong answer on 1.25% of the trials

In a control group with no Confederates participants got the colour wrong on 0.25% of trials

Question 9

AO3 Evaluation of minority influence

Answer 9

+ Moscovici’s research shows support For minority influence and consistency
- The tasks lack mundane realism meaning the findings may lack external validity as they are limited in reflecting real life social situations
- 68% never agreed with the minority

+ Real life applications can come from the gay rights movement or the suffragettes which used minority influence to create social change, they all showed consistency, flexibility and commitment (dying, getting arrested etc.)