Minority influence

Question 1

Moscovici aim-

Answer 1

To investigate the role of a consistent minority upon the opinions of the majority in an unambiguous situation

Question 2

M- how many PPs?

Answer 2

32 groups of 6

Question 3

M- make up of groups?

Answer 3

4 real participants

2 confederates

Question 4

How did M deceive PP?

Answer 4

Told it was a test of perception

Question 5

M task?

Answer 5

Identify colour of slides
Consistent group- answered wrongly answered saying the slides were green
Inconsistent- 12 blue , 24 green

Question 6

Findings of M?

Answer 6

8. 2% agreement with minority in consistent group

1. 25% agreement in inconsistent

Question 7

In consistent group what percent of majority answered incorrectly at least once?

Answer 7

32%

Question 8

M conclusion-

Answer 8

Consistency is an important variable within minority influence

Question 9

What did a follow up study show?

Answer 9

When PP gave answers privately consistent minority had a greater impact

Question 10

Why was M sample limited?

Answer 10

He only used females as he thought they would be more interested in colours- results cannot be generalised to males- generally females are more conformist

Question 11

Psychological harm of M?

Answer 11

Mild stress

Question 12

What doesn’t M study identify?

Answer 12

Important factors in minority influence such as group size, status or degree of organisation

Question 13

Who backs up M findings?

Answer 13

Meyers

Question 14

Why is consistency important?

Answer 14

Shows that the minority are committed and confident- gets individuals to re-think their own attitudes

Question 15

Flexibility- why is it important?

Answer 15

The majority appear more reasonable and are therefore more likely to persuade

Question 16

Identification- why is it important?

Answer 16

When a majority can identify with a minority then it will be more persuasive for example a group of males will be more persuasive at persuading a male

Question 17

Who supports identification?

Answer 17

Maas- homosexual group appealing for gay rights less persuasive towards heterosexual majority than a heterosexual minority persuading the majority

Question 18

What is social change?

Answer 18

When a society changes its beliefs, attitudes and behaviour to create new social norms

Question 19

Example of social change?

Answer 19

Green peace- initially regarded as a bunch of cranks
Over times beliefs changed and group gained more support
Now a legitimate voice for environmental issue

Question 20

What is cryptoamnesia?

Answer 20

Gradual process of social change- known as snowball effect, not disruptive to social order

Question 21

Positive social change?

Answer 21

Suffragette movement for women rights

Question 22

Negative social change?

Answer 22

The belief accepted in Nazi Germany 1930ss that saw specific races and religions as inferior

Question 23

How does social change occur?

Answer 23

Individuals direct their thinking at why the minority holds a particular viewpoint- conversion to minority viewpoint then takes place when individuals start to look at the issue in the same way as the minority- new attitudes are adopted as mainstream