Minority Influence

Question 1

Minority Influence

Answer 1

refers to situations where one person or a small group influences the beliefs of the majority. This is a distinct form of conformity where the majority is doing the influencing and will lead to internalisation.

Question 2

3 Factors to Minority Influence

Answer 2

Consistency, Commitment, and Flexibility

Question 3

Consistency

Answer 3

Minority must be consistent in views over time increasing interest of others. Two types needed, diachronic, which is consistency over a long period of time, and synchronic which is consistency across the minority.

Question 4

Commitment

Answer 4

Idea need to engage in extreme activities where they place some risk on themselves to show greater commitment bringing more attention to it. Augmentation principle.

Question 5

Flexibility

Answer 5

Too consistent can be off-putting as may seem rigid, unbending, and dogmatic. (Nemeth 1986). Prepared to adapt beliefs and accept reasonable and valid counter arguments. Strike a balance.

Question 6

Process of Change

Answer 6

1. all three factors to make people think about minority’s view.
2. deeper processing occurs as it is a new idea which is a important aspect in the process of conversion.
3. over time more people switch to minority’s view.
4. more this happens the faster the rate of conversion. starts the snowball effect.
5. gradually minority becomes the majority and change has occurred.

Question 7

Real Life Example

Answer 7

Suffragette Movement. Commitment = chaining selves to palace gates and one dove in front of a horse at the King’s Horse Race. Flexibility = stopped when men went to war and supported them by working in factories. Diachronic consistency = stated view over 11 years. Synchronic consistency = each promoted women’s right to vote.

Question 8

Key Study Procedure

Answer 8

Moscovici et al (1969). Used 172 women and placed them into groups of 6 with 4 real participants. The participants had to identify the colour of the 36 slides, which were always blue but asked if it was blue or green. 2 conditions, the consistent ones where two confederates said slides green for all slides, but inconsistent when said slides green on 24/36.

Question 9

Key Study Findings

Answer 9

Found participants in consistent conformed in 8.4% of trials and inconsistent 1.3% of trials. Concluded consistency needed for minority influence.

Question 10

Strength (S)

Answer 10

Moscovici et al (1969) found when confederates were consistent the participants were more likely to conform.
Shows needed for minority influence.
However… percentage only 8.4% so consistency cannot create minority influence on its own but also needs commitment and flexibility.

Question 11

Strength (F)

Answer 11

Research support for flexibility.
Nemeth and Brayer found in jury situation when deciding compensation to give someone in an accident if a confederate refused to change their number it didn’t affect group, but if compromised did.
Flexibility allows for change.
Furthermore.. shows need to strike a balance between consistency and flexibility as too much consistency makes little impact.

Question 12

Weakness

Answer 12

Research support uses artificial tasks.
Moscovici’s task involved naming the colour of slides.
Lacks external validity as not representative so not generalisable making it limited.
Furthermore.. demand characteristics as lab experiments.