MINORITY INFLUENCE Flashcards
what type of conformity does minority influence involve?
Internalisation, because their private and public attitudes match
Define minority influence
When a minority changes the attitudes and behaviours of the majority, we call this minority influence.
What is meant by the term conversion?
The process by which the minority, persuades the majority.
What are the 3 stages of conversion?
Conflict, understanding, and validity.
Describe the first stage of minority influence.
CONFLICT: First, the minority may try to create a conflict, and prove their point to the majority.
Describe the second stage of minority influence.
UNDERSTANDING: The minority then try to understand and internalise the attitudes and beliefs of the minority, they question it and try to see wether they can reason with it.
Describe the third stage of minority influence.
VALIDITY: This is when the minorities beliefs seem valid, therefore the majority starts to adopt the minorities groups attitudes and beliefs and behaviours.
State the 3 factors which strengthen minority influence.
Consistency, commitment, and flexibility.
Explain how consistency helps strengthen minority influence.
The minority group has to always be consistent with their attitudes and beliefs. Keep on repeating their beliefs . Everyone in the group must agree with the belief, and they need to make sure that the attitude and belief doesn’t change over time, or in a different context.
Explain how commitment helps strengthen minority influence.
The minority group , needs to take risks and prove that they are fully committed, despite what anyone thinks, and despite the consequences.
Explain how Flexibility helps strengthen minority influence.
The minority group should be able to listen to opposing views and provide appropriate responses, sometimes showing alternatives and compromises.
What is meant by social change?
When minorities change the attitudes and behaviours of a society, so that new social norms are created.
What is meant by the snowball effect?
At first, minorities convert a few people, however as more people convert, the influence of the minority gets bigger, thus causing more people to convert at a faster rate.
What is meant by social cryptomnesia?
Forgetting how social changed occurred, and who started it is known as social cryptomnesia.
Who are the two researchers that investigated minority influence?
Moscovic and Namath.
