Minority Influence

Question 1

Outline Minority influence.

Answer 1

-when members of a majority group change there behaviour and beliefs because of a minority group influencing there decision
-leads to internalisation
-the minority group must be consistant,show commitment and be flexible in there behaviour

Question 2

Name the 3 types of Minority Influence.

Answer 2

-CONSISTENCY
-COMMITMENT
-FLEXIBILITY

Question 3

Outline Consistency

Answer 3

-If the Minority keep repeating the same beliefs to the Majority
-both overtime (diachronic synchrony)
-and between all indivduals that form the minority (synchronic consistency)
-the majority would reasses the situation and consider the minority idea more carefully

Question 4

Outline Commitment

Answer 4

-Minority must show dedication and make personal sacrifices
-Minority may engage in extreme activities to draw attention to there view
-if the activity presents risk it shows there commitment
-the majority group may pay even more attention (augmentation personality)

Question 5

Outline Flexibility

Answer 5

-too much consistency can be seen as dogmatic and rigid
>this would prevent the majority from moving to the minority view
-the minority must adapt and accept reasonable counter arguments
-the key is to strike a balance between consistency and flexibility

Question 6

What are the 3 Evaluations for Minority influence?

Answer 6

Moscovie’s study,
lack of mundane realism
Nemeth and Brilmayar

Question 7

Explain the Moscovi study explanation

Answer 7

CONDITION1 =minority group of 2 people inconsistently called the blue slides green
-shows lack of commitment
-had little effect on majority as only 1% changed there mind
-the rest continued to call them blue
CONDITION 2 =minority group called all the blue slides green
-they did this consistently and had commitment
-this had a effect on the majority as 8% changed there mind
SUPPORTS AS IT SHOWS THAT HAVING CONSISTANCY IS IMPORTANT WHEN WANTING TO CHANGE THE MAJORITY OPINION

Question 8

Explain the criticism of Mosco VI’s study.

Answer 8

-lacks mundane realism
-so difficult to generalize the findings to a real life social situation where the out come is important
e.g. a minority would less likely influence the verdict of a serious crime in a jury setting
-lowers external validity

Question 9

Explain the Evaluation of Nemeth and Brilmayar

Answer 9

-they created a mock jury situation
-to decide the amount of compensation to be paid to someone in a ski lift accident
-one confederate gave a alternative point but refused to move from there position this had no effect on group members.
-one confederate compromised which did have influence
THEREFORE BECAUSE HE WAS FLEXIBLE IN HIS OPINION THE MAJORITY CHANGED THERE OPINION.