Minority Influence Flashcards
What is minority influence
It’s where minority influences behaviour of majority leading to internalisation
Why is consistency important in minority influence and what are the different types?
- must be consistent to win over the majority
-synchronic consistency - members of minority say the same thing
-diachronic consistency - members of minority say the same thing and have been for a long time
Majority may doubt themselves after seeing consistency and Change their point of view.
What was the experiment which was a strength for consistency?
-asked to view set of blue slides in different brightnesses
-the 2 confederates out of the group of 6 said the slides were green
When the confederates were consistent with the slides being green the conformity rate was 8.24% in which they called the slides green
When the confederates were inconsistent with the slides being green conformity was 1.25%
What did wood eat al discover about consistency?
Discovered that consistent minorities were most influential
What is a disadvantage for consistency?
Overly consistent minorities were viewed as inflexible and rigid which may cause the majority to ignore the minority.
What is commitment?
Taking part in extreme activities that help draw attention to their views
Eg when the suffragettes took part in force feeding , imprisonment and hunger strikes to draw attention
What strengths and weaknesses are there when it comes to commitment ?
Strength- those tho communicated on social media were most influential (xie et al)
Weakness- could be seen as deviant our trouble makers. Members of the majority may stay away from the minority to avoid being called trouble makers
What is flexibility?
Where you need to be prepared to adapt your point of view and accept counter arguments so you don’t seem narrow minded.
Evidence was found that people who compromise are seen as more influential
What is a disadvantage of flexibility?
Minority needs to identify with the minority in at least some way for them to agree with their point of view. If not, then the minority are seen as selfish and different
