Minority influence

Question 1

Consistency:

Answer 1

If the minority group is consistent with their views, this attracts the attention of the majority over time.

Question 2

Commitment:

Answer 2

Augmentation principle - personal sacrifices show commitment and draws attention.

Question 3

Flexibility:

Answer 3

Minority groups are more convincing if they accept some counter arguments.

Question 4

The process of change:

Answer 4

Consistency, commitment and flexibility shown by a minority group makes the majority think more deeply about the issue.

Snow-ball effect: Minority view gathers momentum until it becomes majority influence.

Question 5

Strengths of minority influence:

Answer 5

There is research evidence that demonstrates the importance of consistency.
Moscovici’s study showed that a consistent minority opinion has a greater effect on people than a inconsistent one.
This shows that consistency is a major factor in minority influence.

Question 6

Weaknesses of minority influence:

Answer 6

A limitation to of minority research is that the tasks involved - such as identifying the colour of a slide in Moscovici’s study.

Research is then far removed from how minorities attempt to change the behaviour of majorities in real life.

This means the findings of minority influence studies like Moscovici’s are lacking external validity and are limited to what they tell us about minority influence in real life situations.