Minority Influence - AO3

Question 1

What is a strength of minority influence (consistency)

Answer 1

• P: Strength = evidence for consistency
• E: Moscovici et al. (1969): blue-green slide study
• E: Significantly more people converted to minority when consistent, 8.42% vs 1.25% (vs 0.25% control no confederates)
• L: This shows that… presenting a consistent view is essential for MI

Question 2

What are limitations of minority influence?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = low rates of conversion
• E: 8.42% low enough that MI consistency may not be useful explanation
• C: In second experiment, ppts wrote answers down to more blue-green slides; more likely show a perceptual shift (rate over 75% of slides as green)
• S: This suggests that… PPs in majority maybe reluctant to publicly admit conversion, but still (perhaps subconsciously) altered opinion
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• P: Limitation = artificial task
• E: Lacks mundane realism, not representative of real life
• E: Real life = more likely significant consequences to beliefs/behaviours, e.g. in jury decision-making
• L: This means that… findings of research lacking in ecological validity so may not be applicable to real-world social situations​

Question 3

What is evaluation extra for minority influence?

Answer 3

• P: Strength = evidence for deeper thought processing
• E: Martin et al. (2003): pps presented with either majority or minority support for a viewpoint they agreed with
• E: Pps who shared the minority viewpoint were less willing to change their opinions
• L: Shows that… minority messages are processed more deeply