Social change

Question 1

what are the implications for social change of research into social influence? (6 marks)

Answer 1

• minority influence can bring about social change
• majority rethink the norm
• using commitment consistency and flexibility

1) social cryptomnesia - don’t know where the idea originated came from
2) minority influence can be difficult as people are unwilling to change their views - distinct stereotypes
3) social change is hard due to different personalities
- shows how a single person can bring about social change

Question 2

Describe how social influence research has contributed to our understanding of social change (6 marks)

Answer 2

• examples of social change: suffragettes movement, civil rights movement
• minority influence - commitment, consistency, flexibility
• are able to challenge majority views
• snowball effect
• leads to dictators making rules forcing compliance
• social cryptomnesia
• moscovis - consistency to change opinion
• Nemeth - compromise, how powerful a minority can be

Question 3

smoking in public places banned, explain how this social change has occurred (4 marks)

Answer 3

1) dictators use power to bring about the obedience
- law
- forced to comply with the majority
- social cryptomnesia
2) minority convince the majority to change views
- commitment, consistency, flexibility
- snowball effect
3) informational social influence
- doctors/ scientists are more informative about the negative effects of smoking

Question 4

Explain how a minority can bring about social change ( 4 marks)

Answer 4

• minority bring about social change by challenging the status quo
• minority must have internal loc - resist compliance - disobey authority
• consistent commitment flexibility
• snowball effect
• social cryptomnesia original influence forgotten about
• moscovic - 8%, 1%

Question 5

Explain how social influence research helps us to understand social change (6 marks)

Answer 5

1) minorities - consistency, commitment, flexibility
- snowball effect
- social cryptomnesia
- Moscovici - consistency 8% 1%

2) dictators can bring about social change through the power of obedience
- forced to comply

Question 6

A small environmental group wants to encourage people to use public transport or bicycles instead of using their cars.
Using your knowledge of the role of minority influence in social change, what advice would you give the environmental group?

Answer 6

• for minorities to be successful they need to be consistent committed and flexible
• minority must have internal loc - resist compliance - disobey authority
• moscovic - 8%, 1%
• minority not acting out of self-interest but they genuinely believe its the best policy
• personal sacrifice given up cars themselves - more effective