SI - Resistance to social influence and minority influence

Question 1

What is locus of control and how does it effect resistance to social influence?

Answer 1

• Internal locus of control: belief that what happens in your life results from your own behaviours and actions
• External locus of control: belief that events are caused by external factors, like luck or actions of others
• People with an internal L.O.C feel a stronger sense of control in their lives than those with an external locus of control. People with an external locus of control are more likely to conform or obey

Question 2

What was Moscovici’s study?

Answer 2

• Lab experiment, solely women, 2 confederates in groups of 6 (minority)
• Shown a blue slide which varied in brightness with confederates calling it green
• Control group the participants called the slides green 0.25% of the time. In the consistent condition, where confederates called all 36 slides green, 8.4% of participants adopted the minority position and called the slides green. In inconsistent condition the participants 1.25% of the time did participants call the slides green

Conclusion: The confederates were in the minority but seemed to influence the participants. The confederates had more influence when they were consistent

EV:
- Lab experiment
- Trivial exercise, they may have acted differently if morals were involved
- Only American women, gender and culture bias
- Control group

Question 3

What are the two main factors influencing resistance to social influence?

Answer 3

• Having social support; Moscovici’s experiment; people are more likely to display independent behavior if they’ve got support from others
• Independent behavior; internal locus of control

Question 4

Difference between minor and majority influence

Answer 4

• Majority influence: People compare their behavior to the majority (social comparison) and change their behavior to fit in without considering the majority views in detail. Compliance. no private feelings changed
• Minority influence: When a minority is consistent people may examine the minority’s beliefs in detail because they want to understand why the minority sees things differently. People may privately accept their view but due to social pressures their behavior doesn’t actually change

Question 5

Factors effecting the influence of the minority (social influence)

Answer 5

• Consistency; shows a clear view; Moscovici
• Commitment; personal sacrifice show minority not acting out of self interest
• Flexibility; Minority should accept reasonable counter-argument from majority

Question 6

Snow-ball effect, minority influence

Answer 6

If some people in a group start to agree with a minority view then the minority becomes more influential. This results in more people converting into the minority view and so on

Question 7

Examples of minority social change

Answer 7

• Gay rights movement
• Martin Luther King