Social Change

Question 1

What is social change?

Answer 1

When whole societies are changed rather than individuals.

Social change involves the adoption of new attitudes, beliefs, and methods of doing things, which can lead to conflict with authority.

Question 2

What can cause cognitive conflict in social change?

Answer 2

Stopping to think about the situation.

Cognitive conflict occurs when individuals reflect on inconsistencies in their beliefs or actions.

Question 3

What is the augmentation principle?

Answer 3

The principle that shows commitment can lead to social change.

This principle suggests that when individuals show commitment to a cause, it can enhance the perceived importance of that cause.

Question 4

What does social cryptomnesia refer to?

Answer 4

A memory that change has occurred but not remembering how it happened.

Examples include historical changes like segregation and the feminist movement.

Question 5

What is the snowball effect in social change?

Answer 5

A situation where a small change or event leads to larger consequences over time.

This concept illustrates how social movements gain momentum and can lead to substantial outcomes over time.

Question 6

Give an example of the snowball effect in social movements.

Answer 6

The suffragettes movement.

The suffragettes contributed to social change by advocating for women’s right to vote in 1918, demonstrating how small beginnings can lead to significant outcomes.

Question 7

What was the contribution of the suffragettes movement?

Answer 7

Contributed to women’s right to vote in 1918.

This movement involved large numbers of women fighting for change and rights, utilizing commitment to achieve their goals.

Question 8

1. Drawing attention to an issue

Answer 8

Minority can bring about social change by drawing attention to an issue

Question 9

2. Cognitive Conflict

Answer 9

Minority creates conflict in the minds of the majority between what is currently believed and what the minority believes

Question 10

3. Consistency

Answer 10

Social change more likely to occur when minority is consistent in its position

Question 11

4. Augmentation Principle

Answer 11

If a minority suffers for its views, it is taken more seriously e.g. Suffragettes risking their lives

Question 12

5. Snowball Effect

Answer 12

Minority influence initially has a small effect, but this spreads more widely until it eventually leads to large-scale social change e.g. Suffragettes leading to current women’s rights e.g. voting