Social change Flashcards
What is social change?
This occurs when whole societies adopt new attitudes, beliefs and behaviours
What are the 6 stages of social change from minority influence?
1- Drawing attention
2- Consistency
3- Deeper processing
4- Augmentation principle
5- The snowball effect
6- Social cryptomnesia
What is drawing attention?
Providing social proof of the problem, creating awareness
What is consistency?
Minority members share the same belief and continue to do so over a long period of time
What is deeper processing?
Individuals think deeply about the issue
What is the augmentation principle?
Deeper thinking that leads to a change (occurs through extreme activities)
What is the snowball effect?
More and more people back the minority, until it becomes the majority. Gains attention from the government
What is social cryptomnesia?
People remember that a change has occurred, but cannot remember how
How does social change arise from dissenting peers (conformity)?
Breaks the unanimity, encourages others to stop conforming
How does social change arise from NSI (conformity)?
People follow group norms, and feel the need to be liked, which encourages social change
How does social change arise from dissenting peers (obedience)?
Disobedient role models encourage social support
How does social change arise from gradual commitment (obedience)?
If people can be encouraged to obey one small instruction at a time, it is harder to resist a bigger one
STRENGTH-
I- Research support for normtaive influences
D- Nolan et al aim to see if they could change people’s energy-use habits. Researchers hung messages on front doors- key message was that most were trying to reduce energy use. Significant decrease in energy usage in first group vs control group
E- Shows conformity can lead to social change through NSI- valid explanation
LIMITATION-
I- Lack of support for normative influences
D- Foxcroft et al reviwed social norm interventions, including 70 studies where social norms were used to reduce student alcohol use. Researchers found small reduction in drinking quantity and no effect on drinking frequency
E- Seems that normative influence does not produce long-term social change
STRENGTH-
I- Minority influence explains change
D- Nemeth- minority arguments cause people to engage in divergent thinking (broad, active info search). Thinking leads to better decisions and creative solutions to problems
E-Shows minorities are valuable as they stimulate new ideas and open minds
