Minority Infuence + E

Question 1

Def 4 social change? + example

Answer 1

When the whole of society adopts new belief or ways of behaving.

E.G: the suffrage

Question 2

Defenition of minority influence

Answer 2

Where a small group of people influences the beliefs and behaviours of the majority

Question 3

What are the 3 main processes in minority influence?

Answer 3

1. Consistency
2. Commitment
3. Flexibility

Question 4

Explain consistency as a feature of minority influence?

Answer 4

The minority must be consistent in their views.

This consistency increases the amount of interest from others (synchronic + diachronic)

Question 5

What are the 2 types of consistency?

Answer 5

Synchronic and diachronic

Question 6

What is synchronic consistency?

Answer 6

When all of the minority group is saying hr same thing

Question 7

What is diachronic consistency?

Answer 7

When the minority is saying the same thing over a long period of time

Question 8

Explain commitment as a feature of minority influence?

Answer 8

Minority must demonstrate commitment to their views

Engaging in extreme activities that show risk to draw attention to their views shows greater commitment = majority pays more attention.

Question 9

‘Engaging in extreme activities that show risk to draw attention to their views shows greater commitment = majority pays more attention.’

What is this called?

Answer 9

Augmentation principle

Question 10

Explain flexibility as a feature of minority influence?

Answer 10

Members need to be prepared to adapt their views and accept reasonably counter arguements.

Question 11

What happens if the minority group is not flexible in their beliefs?

Answer 11

They can be viewed as rigid = unlikely to gain support from the majority

Question 12

What analogy is used to describe the process of change?

Answer 12

Snowball effect

Question 13

What door the snowball effect explain?

Answer 13

The growth of a movement form the minority to majority view and change then occurs.

Question 14

P: Research evidence

S

Answer 14

E: Moscow ‘blue green slide’ study showed that a consistent minority opinion has a greater influence than an inconsistent one

E: TMT a consistent view helps influence a majority

Question 15

P: Evidence showing a change in the majority requires a processing of the minorities ideas

(S)

Answer 15

E: Martin (2003) presented a message supporting a particular point and measured the participant agreement. The participants who were in the presence of a minority they are more willing to change their opinions.

E: TST the minority message had been processed deeper than the majority.

Question 16

P: Studies like Martin et al’s make a clear distinction between their influence in the lab studies vs the real world

(W)

Answer 16

E: Real world situations are much more complex
Majorities often have more money, power and status than the majority but in the studies the minority is just the smallest group.

E: TMT the results are limiter at what they tell us about minority influence = ⬇️ validity

Question 17

P: Artificial evidence

W

Answer 17

E: Mosvovi task - identifying a slide
Has no similarity to real life as the decision made have higher stakes

E: TMT the findings of minority influence are lacking external validity and are limited in what they can explain