Minority influence Flashcards
5
What is minority influence?
A form of SI where members of maj group change their beliefs or behaviours as a result to their exposure to a persusasive minority.
3
What are successful minorities in their arguements?
Consistent, committed and flexible.
Outline consistentcy.
If minority is consistent in arguements, others consider issue more carefully as there must be a reason why the minority is sufficently conf to maintain this position over time.
What is the research into consistent.
Meta-anaylsis found minorities consistent- influential.
Outline commitment.
A minority that adopts commitment to its position suggests certainty and confidence in face of a hostile majority.
Greater commitment may then pursuade maj group members to take them seriously or even conver to minority position.
Outline flexibility
It is more effective than rigidity of arguements because minorities must negotiate their position then enforce it. As otherwise a rigid minority that refuses to compramise will be perceived as dogmatic. One that is too prepared to compramise is seen as inconsistent. Neither are effective.
A03- Research support for flexibility **Nemeth (1987) **
P- N provides support for role of flexibility in a simulated jury situation.
E- A group discussed compensation to be paid to someone involved in an accident. A confederate who adopted an inflexible position had no effect on other group members. A confederate who compromised late into negotiations (showing f) id exert an influence, but one who compromised earlier did not (caved in)
L- suggests flexibility is only effective at changing maj opinion in certain circumstances.
A03- The real value of MI is that it opens the mind Nemeth (2010)
P-Nemeth (2010) argues that exposure to a minority position causes people to make better decisions.
E-As a result of this minority influence, people search for information, consider more options, make better decisions, and show evidence of more creative thought processes.
L-This view is supported in a study of the role of dissent in work groups (Van Dyne and Saavedra, 1996). When exposed to a minority perspective, groups showed improved decision quality.
A03- The maj rather than minority creates greater message processing
(Mackie 1987)
P-M argues that views of minority do not lead to greater processing, but it is the maj who create greater message processing.
E-we believe maj shares similar beliefs to ours, If it expresses a diff view we consider it carefully to understand why this is the case.
L- By contrast, ppl tend not to waste time trying to process why a minoritys message is diff, therefore it tends to be less, rather than more influential.
A03 PLUS- MI exists in name only
Nemeth (2010)
P- N claims it still difficult to convince people of value of MI and dissent.
E- People accept principle only on surface, and quickly become irritated by a dissenting view that persists. They also fear that welcoming a dissent would create a lack of harmony within group, and fear repocussions.
L- As a concequence, maj view persists and the opp got innovative thinkinh associated with MI is lost.
