Minority Influence

Question 1

What is Minority Influence?

Answer 1

A type of social influence where the minority influences the beliefs and behaviours of others

Question 2

What does Minority Influence typically lead to and why?

Answer 2

Internalisation, as it prompts the individual to think more deeply about why the minority hold that particular view or belief instead of that of the majority (The Augmentation Principle)

Question 3

Which 3 factors enhance the success of the minority in terms of Minority Influence?

Answer 3

• Consistency
• Commitment
• Flexibility

Question 4

Describe Moscovici’s Minority Influence Study

Answer 4

• Small groups of participants were presented with a set of blue slides that varied in intensity, and had to state whether the slides were blue or green
• All the slides were in actuality blue
• In Condition 1, two confederates consistently stated that the slides were actually green
• In Condition 2, two confederates inconsistently stated that the slides were green

Question 5

In Moscovici’s Consistent Condition, what percentage of the time did the participants also state the wrong answer?

Answer 5

8.4%

Question 6

In Moscovici’s Inconsistent Condition, what percentage of the time did the participants state the wrong answer?

Answer 6

1.25%

Question 7

In which two ways must the minority be consistent in their views?

Answer 7

• By being synchronic, meaning they are unanimous in their views
• By being diachronic, meaning their views remain consistent overtime

Question 8

How must the minority demonstrate commitment to their views and why?

Answer 8

By making sacrifices, which demonstrates they aren’t acting out of self-interest

Question 9

What did Nemeth state the minority must do in terms of flexibility in regards to their views?

Answer 9

• Strike a balance between flexibility and consistency, as relentless consistency can be off-putting and is likely to be seen as unyielding
• Instead, the minority must adapt their views as times change; accept reasonable, valid arguments, and negotiate.

Question 10

Whose meta-analysis found that consistent minorities were most influential?

Answer 10

Wood’s

Question 11

Describe Martin et al’s Minority VS Majority Viewpoint Study

Answer 11

• He presented participants with a specific viewpoint and measured their level of agreement with it
• Condition 1 then listened to a minority agree with the initial view
• Condition 2 listened to a majority agree with the initial view
• Both Conditions were then presented with a conflicting view, and their level of agreement was measured again
• Participants who had listened to the minority viewpoint were less likely to be swayed by the conflicting viewpoint

Question 12

Which study supports the idea that Minority Influence results in deeper processing, ultimately leading to a change in viewpoints?

Answer 12

Martin et al’s Minority VS Majority Viewpoint Study

Question 13

What real-world examples can Minority Influence be applied to?

Answer 13

• Civil Rights
• LGBTQ+ Rights
• The Suffragette Movement

Question 15

What study supports the idea that Minority Influence is rare, and therefore as a theory has a limited application?

Answer 15

Moscovici- even in the Condition Condition the minority only influenced the majority 8.4% of the time

Question 16

What colour were all of the slides in Moscovici’s Minority Influence study?

Answer 16

Blue