Social Change

Question 1

social change definition

Answer 1

when whole societies adopt new beliefs, attitudes and behaviours

Question 2

6 stages of social change

Answer 2

1. drawing attention
2. consistency
3. deeper processing
4. augmentation principle
5. snowball effect
6. social cryptoamnesia

Question 3

social cryptoamnesia

Answer 3

when people know a change has occurred but don’t remember how or how it started

Question 4

most likely cause of social change?

Answer 4

minority influence

Question 5

how does minorty influence cause social change?

Answer 5

minories use consistency, commitment and flexibility to persuade others to change their thinking and therfore their behaviour

Question 6

how does conformity cause social change?

Answer 6

• aspects of conformity can be used such as using NSI to persuade change in behaviour
• breaking power of majority through dissent c=may start social change

Question 7

how might obedience be a part of social change (including Milgram’s research)

Answer 7

• M’s research shows that disobedient role models decrease overall obedience showing how disobedience could start social change
• obedience may be part of SC through laws being passed

Question 8

Nolan et al. aim

Answer 8

investigate whether social influence process led to decreased energy consumption in a San Diego community

Question 9

Nolan et al. procedure

Answer 9

• hung messages on front doors every week for a month
• key message of most residents reducing energy consumption
• control of messages just asking to save energy with no reference to others’ behaviour

Question 10

Nolan et al. findings and conclusions

Answer 10

• found a significant decrease in energy usage in experimental condition compared to control
• supports idea that conformity can lead to social change through NSI

Question 11

what is one argument against minority influence in SC and a counter to that?

Answer 11

• somee researchers argue minority influence only plays a small role in SC and most SC takes a long time to occur so if minority influence does play a part, it is hard to est.
• others argue that it takes long because minority has to work hard to convince majority so only when it does can SC occur

Question 12

what does SC research ignore, what research shows this and what does it suggest?

Answer 12

• ignores that some people may resist influence even if they agree it is necessary
• research has found that people refuse to be environmentally friendly even though they agree with it because they don’t want to be associated with the stereotype of environmental activists
• suggests it is not just minority influence, conformiy and obedience that cause SC