Social influence and Social change

Question 1

What is social change?

Answer 1

• This occurs when whole societies, rather than just individuals, adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things. Examples include accepting that the Earth orbits the Sun, women’s suffrage, gay rights and environmental issues.

Question 2

What is social influence?

Answer 2

• The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours. Includes conformity, obedience and minority influence.

Question 3

What are the steps of social change?

Answer 3

1. Drawing attention - through social proof
2. Consistency - consistency of message and intent
3. Deeper processing (of the issue) - people who had simply accepted the status quo began to think about the unjustness of it.
4. The augmentation principle - risking your life for a cause
5. The snowball effect - how small actions at the beginning can cause bigger and bigger actions ultimately resulting in a huge change.
6. Social cryptomnesia - people have a memory that change has occurred but don’t remember how it happened.