Minority influence including reference to consistency, commitment and flexiblility

Question 1

Define consistency

Answer 1

The minority will only be influential if they stick to their view over a period of time

Question 2

Define flexibility

Answer 2

Being able to adapt and not rigidly stick to an attitude or behaviour in light of contradictory information

Question 3

What are three qualities a minority has to have in order to be successful

Answer 3

Consistency, Flexibility, Commitment

Question 4

Define commitment

Answer 4

They have to show they are committed to opinion/behaviour. This may be demonstrated through consistency or the willingness to make sacrifices for the cause.

Question 5

What research supports the view that consistency is an important factor in minority influence

Answer 5

Moscovici found that when four participants were placed with 2 confederates who insisted that a series of blue slides were green 8.42% of the times the participants agreed over 36 trials.

This is in comparison to 1.25% who said that the slides were green when the confederates were inconsistent with their answers.

This supports the view that minorities can be influential but a lack of consistency reduces the influence of the minorities

Question 6

What research challenges the view that consistency is the most important factor in minority influence

Answer 6

Nemeth et al (1987)

Used a simulated jury situation where group members discussed the amount of compensation to be paid to someone involved in a ski-lift accident. When a confederate put forward an alternative point of view and refused to change his position, this had no effect on the other group members. However, a confederate who compromised was able to convince the group.

This supports the view that consistency without flexibility is unlikely to lead to a minority being influential.

Question 7

What research suggest that consistent but flexible minorities can be successful

Answer 7

Nemeth

It is difficult to convince people of the value of going against the majority. People accept the principle on the surface to appear democratic and tolerant but quickly become irritated by the dissenting view.

This means that in reality, the majority view tends to persist and it is difficult for minorities to break the status quo

Question 8

Describe the procedure of moscovici et al (1969)

Answer 8

• Placed in a group consisting of four participants and two confederates
• 36 slides CLEARLY blue
• First part of experiment two confederates answered green the whole time
• Second part of experiment two confederates answered green 24/36 times

Question 9

What was the conclusion of moscovici’s experiment

Answer 9

Minorities can influence a majority, but not all the time and only when they behave in certain ways

Question 10

What is one advantage if Moscovici’s study

Answer 10

The study is highly controlled and therefore helps the understanding of the processes involved in minority influence. It allows us to draw firm conclusions about the role of consistency in minority influence.

Question 11

What is one disadvantage of Moscovici’s study

Answer 11

There are problems with the external validity, it was small and exclusively female, it is not a good reflection of real life.

Question 12

What is piece of research that challenges Moscovici’s

Answer 12

Nemeth et al (1987) used a simulated jury and when a confederate put forward a view and refused to change his opinion this had no effect, supporting the view that consistency without flexibility is unlikely to lead to a minority being influential.