Social Change

Question 1

What is social change?

Answer 1

Refers to change in the whole of society, not on an individual level, and adopts new beliefs and ways of behaving for example homosexual rights, ban on smoking in public places and women getting the vote. Often is a result of minority influence.

Question 2

How do minority groups bring about social change?

Answer 2

1. Drawing attention to issue
2. Consistency of position
3. Deeper processing
4. The augmentation principle
5. The snowball effect
6. Social crypto amnesia

Question 3

How does conformity bring about social change?

Answer 3

When a majority accepts the view then others conform to the view due to NSI or ISI

Question 4

How does obedience bring about social change?

Answer 4

A dictator could lead groups to change their behaviour due to fear of punishment/consequences of not obeying

Question 5

strength - Nolan (2008)

Answer 5

• Hung messages on doors of houses in San Diego every week for a month
• Key message: most residents are trying to reduce energy consumption
• One control group message: just to save energy
• Groups that referred to other residents shown a decrease in energy usage
• Conformity leads to social change through NSI

Question 6

weaknesses

Answer 6

• effects of minority influence are likely to be indirect and delayed, the effects are not seen for some time.
• deeper influence is taken in the majority view as when we disagree with a majority we take a long hard think, this may not be the case with the minority influence.