Minority Influence & Social Change

Question 1

What is conversion?

Answer 1

The process where the majority gradually adopt a new minority viewpoint or behaviour, becoming accepted both pubically and privately.

Question 2

What type of conformity is conversion?

Answer 2

Internalisation.

Question 3

What is the motivation for conversion?

Answer 3

Informational social influence.

Question 4

What is cryptomnesia?

Answer 4

The process by which minority attitudes, behaviours and beliefs become majority held views.

Question 5

How are new beliefs formed during cryptomnesia?

Answer 5

Without a conscious understanding of where it came from or the processes involved.

Question 6

What are the three factors involved in minority influence?

Answer 6

• Consistency.
• Commitment.
• Flexibility.
• Systematic and superficial processing.
• Style of thinking.
• Identification.

Question 7

How does consistency affect minority influence?

Answer 7

The minority being consistent in both their opinions and behaviour indicates that they are committed.

Question 8

How does commitment affect minority influence?

Answer 8

Commitment creates doubt in established norms and consequently leads people to re-examine their own behaviour and beliefs.

Question 9

How does flexibility affect minority influence?

Answer 9

Individuals who are flexible are seen as more persuasive.

Question 10

How does systematic processing affect minority influence?

Answer 10

Minority consistency and commitment leads to individuals being more likely to engage in systematic processing, meaning the minority viewpoint is carefully considered over time.

Question 11

How does style of thinking affect minority influence?

Answer 11

• When the majority is presented with arguments for and against it increases the influence of the minority.
• When the minority can get the majority to discuss and debate, they become more persuasive.

Question 12

How does identification affect minority influence?

Answer 12

If the minority can identify with the majority by appealing to similarities they can be more persuasive.

Question 13

What is the role of majority influence within society?

Answer 13

• Helps to maintain social order.
• Helps individuals to understand the behaviour and attitudes that are expected of society.

Question 14

How does minority influence affect majority influence?

Answer 14

• Majority influence can be broken down over time by a consistent and flexible minority.
• Minority viewpoints can slowly win the majority over and eventually become new social norms.
• Individuals concentrate on trying to understand why the minority hold a particular viewpoint.

Question 15

How is compliance involved in the process of social change?

Answer 15

• The majority begin to conform through compliance and the minority viewpoint becomes mainstream.
• However, the compliance may only be public and not private.

Question 16

What are the strengths of minority social change?

Answer 16

• Tends to be gradual meaning it has a less disruptive impact on social order and causes less harm and conflict.
• This also means that new ideas can be tested to check they are sutiable for mainstream society.