Minority Influence

Question 1

Commitment

Answer 1

The degree to which members of a minority are dedicated to a particular cause or activity

Question 1

Consistency

Answer 1

Stability in the message of a minority, and agreement amongst the members

Question 2

Flexibility

Answer 2

A willingness to be flexible and to compromise when expressing a position

Question 3

Minority influence

Answer 3

A form of social influence where members of a majority group change their beliefs or behaviour as a result of exposure to a persuasive minority

Question 4

Moscovici et al (1969) aim

Answer 4

Investigate minority influence and its effectiveness in different variations

Question 5

Moscovici et al (1969) procedure

Answer 5

4 naive participants and minority 2 confederates shown a series of blue slides of varying intensity and were asked to judge the colour. Confederates repeatedly said the slides were green. In another variation, 2/3 of the time. In another, none of the time.

Question 6

Moscovici et al (1969) findings

Answer 6

Consistent minority got the participants to say green 8% of the time, inconsistent 2% and the control 0%

Question 6

Minority influence in name only

Answer 6

Nemeth (2010) found that people appear tolerant of the dissent, but over time become irritated. This means majority view persists.

Question 7

Do we really process the minority’s message anymore?

Answer 7

Mackie (1987) says the views of the minority do not necessarily lead to greater processing, more so the majority. People spend less time processing the minority view so it is less influential