Minority Influence Flashcards
What is minority influence?
Minority influence happens when a small group convinces others to think like them.
It takes time, but it can change both private thoughts and public actions.
1) Consistency
When everyone in the minority group agrees and speaks the same message, it’s called synchronic consistency. This unity in their views can influence others to reconsider their own beliefs gradually.
• It could also refer to consistency over time, known as diachronic consistency
(they’ve been saying the same thing for a long time).
• Such consistency prompts others to start rethinking their views.
2)Commitment
At times, smaller groups might do very bold things to make people notice what they believe.
When these daring actions involve some danger for the minority, it shows how dedicated they are to their cause.
This kind of commitment often makes the larger group take notice and think, “He must really mean what he says; maybe I should think about his ideas.”
examples: peaceful protests, strikes.
3) Flexibiltiy
When you keep saying the same things over and over, people might see you as inflexible.
It’s good to be open to new ideas and different viewpoints. Finding a balance between being consistent and flexible is important.
If you always stick to the same ideas, it might make others not want to chat with you about what you think.
To have better talks, be open to changing your mind and thinking about different ideas that make sense.
