Minority influence Flashcards
Moscovici aim-
To investigate the role of a consistent minority upon the opinions of the majority in an unambiguous situation
M- how many PPs?
32 groups of 6
M- make up of groups?
4 real participants
2 confederates
How did M deceive PP?
Told it was a test of perception
M task?
Identify colour of slides
Consistent group- answered wrongly answered saying the slides were green
Inconsistent- 12 blue , 24 green
Findings of M?
- 2% agreement with minority in consistent group
1. 25% agreement in inconsistent
In consistent group what percent of majority answered incorrectly at least once?
32%
M conclusion-
Consistency is an important variable within minority influence
What did a follow up study show?
When PP gave answers privately consistent minority had a greater impact
Why was M sample limited?
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
Psychological harm of M?
Mild stress
What doesn’t M study identify?
Important factors in minority influence such as group size, status or degree of organisation
Who backs up M findings?
Meyers
Why is consistency important?
Shows that the minority are committed and confident- gets individuals to re-think their own attitudes
Flexibility- why is it important?
The majority appear more reasonable and are therefore more likely to persuade
Identification- why is it important?
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
Who supports identification?
Maas- homosexual group appealing for gay rights less persuasive towards heterosexual majority than a heterosexual minority persuading the majority
What is social change?
When a society changes its beliefs, attitudes and behaviour to create new social norms
Example of social change?
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
What is cryptoamnesia?
Gradual process of social change- known as snowball effect, not disruptive to social order
Positive social change?
Suffragette movement for women rights
Negative social change?
The belief accepted in Nazi Germany 1930ss that saw specific races and religions as inferior
How does social change occur?
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
