Minority Influence

Question 1

What is the main study into minority influence?

Answer 1

Moscovici et al (1969) - Blue / green slides

Question 2

What was the sample for Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 2

192 women

Question 3

What type of experiment was Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 3

Lab

Question 4

What were the groups in Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 4

Experimental: Groups of 6 - 4 participants, 2 confederates
Control: 6 participants only, 0 confederates

Question 5

How many slides were used in Moscovici et al’s study, and what colour were they?

Answer 5

36, all varying shades of blue

Question 6

What were the 2 conditions in Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 6

1. Confederates called all 36 slides ‘green’ (consistent)
2. Confederates called 24 slides ‘green’ and 12 slides ‘blue’ (inconsistent)

Question 7

What were the findings of the consistent condition in Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 7

Participants adopted the minority position and called the slides ‘green’, 8.4% of the time

Question 8

What were the findings of the inconsistent condition in Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 8

Participants adopted the minority position and called the slides ‘green’, 1.25 % of the time

Question 9

What were the findings of the control group in Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 9

Participants called the slides ‘green’, 0.25% of the time

Question 10

What is the conclusion of Moscovici et al’s study?

Answer 10

Consistency is crucial for a minority to exert maximum influence on a majority

Question 11

Why does Moscovici et al’s study lack ecological validity?

Answer 11

The task was extremely artificial and it was a lab study

Question 12

Why does Moscovici et al’s study lack generalisability?

Answer 12

Only women were used, so findings cannot be generalised to men

Question 13

Why is Moscovici et al’s study high in internal validity?

Answer 13

The use and findings of the control group proves that participants were actually influenced by the minority rather than being independently unsure

Question 14

What is the effect of consistency in minority influence?

Answer 14

If the minority is consistent in their arguments, it makes others more likely to rethink their own views and be influenced by the minority

Question 15

What is Synchronic Consistency?

Answer 15

When people in the minority are all saying the same thing

Question 16

What is Diachronic Consistency?

Answer 16

When people in the minority have been saying the same thing for some time

Question 17

What is the effect of Commitment in minority influence?

Answer 17

The majority is more likely to be influenced by the minority if the minority undertake extreme activities or sacrifices to show their commitment.

Question 18

What is the augmentation principle?

Answer 18

When the majority pay more attention due to the risks taken by, or the conviction of, the minority

Question 19

What is the effect of Flexibility in minority influence?

Answer 19

The majority are more likely to be influenced, if the minority are willing to compromise and adapt their point of view

Question 20

What is the snowball effect?

Answer 20

When more and more people start to align with the minority until in eventually becomes the majority

Question 21

What is social cryptoamnesia?

Answer 21

When a social change occurs but people have no memory of where the view came from