Role of social influence in social change Flashcards
define socical change
when there is a shift in the beliefs or behaviour of an entire population (and not simple isolated groups of people), and the previously widely accepted norm changes to be something new
give examples of social influence processes that can cause social change
- minority influence
- internal LOC
- disobedience to authority
how does social change happen through minority influence?
- draws attention
- consistent
- deeper processing
- augmentation principle - minority takes risks
- snowball effect = minority becomes wider spread
- social cryptoamnesia = after change has happened, epople can’t remember the past
what is a strength of minority influence which highlights the processes of social change? (PEE)
- research support
eg. Moscovici et al showed a minority group influenced a majority to give wrong answers
in a task, when they remained consistent, Therefore, this suggests that minorities can be successful in changing the behaviour of a majority, but consistency of their message is key.
However, rate of change is low, only 8% of ppts joined minority. TMB it demonstrates difficulty
what is a strength of social change using obedience?
eg. Milgram found people will obey an authority figure even if it goes against moral code –> 65% of ppts obeyed an order given even though they believed it was causing harm to someone else.
TMB shows how powerful obedience is to change people’s
behaviour eg. the government + laws
what is a strength of social change and conformity?
- research support
eg. Linkenbach and Perkins - found that adolescents
exposed to the simple message that the majority of their age peers did not smoke were subsequently less likely to take up smoking
TMB it supports social change can be made through social norms intervention, where people believe a majority is changing their behaviour,
and so will follow suit to avoid standing out or being rejected.
