SLT: Social Influence and Social Change Flashcards
What is social change?
The way in which society changes its beliefs, attitudes and behaviours in order to create new social norms
What is the snowball effect?
The gradual process of through which minority opinions become majority ones
Why is social change slow?
It allows change to occur at a pace that will not disrupt social order. Rapid change would cause conflict within society. It allows new ideas to be tested out so their suitability for mainstream society can be assessed.
What happens when social change has occurred?
Conformity will consolidate the opinions of others and maintain the new opinion
How can social influence bring about positive changes in attitudes to health?
It can make individuals believe they are in the minority so can make the person change for the better
4 statements about social change
- Ideas need to be tested out
- Conformity perpetuates social change
- Gradual change maintains social order
- Non-conformists are against social change
Burgoon (1995) and minorities
Unexpected behaviour of minorities leads us to question their and our own behaviours on a deeper level, possibly leading us to accept new ideas
What does it mean to consider things on a deeper level
To do something because you truly believe in it, not just because other people do. Questiioning what you truly believe in.
What is social cyptomnesia?
The knowledge that change has occured but not recalling how things changed
