Social Influence And Social Change

Question 1

Lessons from minority influence

Answer 1

Civil rights minority marching with consistent message draws attention to social issue.

Consistent minority forces majority to think more deeply about issue.

Minority becomes majority (snowball effect), source of change forgotten (social cryptomnesia).

Question 2

Minority influence evaluation

Answer 2

Minority influence indirect - also delayed, so narrow role (Nemeth)

Deeper processing - majorities think as deeply as minorities so challenges Moscovici (Mackie)

Identification - identifying with minority overlooked in research (Bashir et al.)

Question 3

Lessons from conformity

Answer 3

Dissenter breaks power of majority, and also appeal to NSI

Support for NSI - reduced people’s energy use (Nolan et al.)

Question 4

Lessons from obedience

Answer 4

Disobedient model promotes social change, gradual commitment helps.

Methodological issues - theories based on flawed studies (Milgram, Asch, etc.)