Social Influence and Social Change

Question 1

How does minority influence create social change?

Answer 1

Drawing attention, consistency, deeper processing, augmentation principle, snowball effect, social cryptomnesia.

Question 2

Drawing attention

Answer 2

Provide social proof of problem: African-American civil rights movement: black separation was all over America. The civil rights marches drew attention.

Question 3

Consistency

Answer 3

Civil rights activists would display consistency through message & intent.

Question 4

Deeper Processing

Answer 4

This attention meant that people who accepted the status quo began to think about the unfairness of it.

Question 5

Augmentation Principle

Answer 5

Expressing your view by taking risks.

Question 6

Snowball Effect

Answer 6

When conversion happens, and more people do it, a change occurs from min. to maj.

Question 7

Social Cryptomnesia

Answer 7

Know that change has occurred but no memory of how it happened.

Question 8

Lessons From Conformity Research

Answer 8

Dissenters have potential to ultimately lead to social change: Asch’s exp.: 1 confederate gave the right answer each time which broke power of maj. encouraging others to dissent. Social change is encouraged by drawing attention to what the maj. are doing.

Question 9

Strength (Nolan)

Answer 9

Research support for NSI. He hung msgs on front doors every week for 1 month. Some msgs: some residents are trying to save energy. Other msgs just asked to save energy. Significant decrease in energy usage from 1st group. Shows conformity can lead to social change through operation of NSI.

Question 10

Weakness

Answer 10

M.I. is only indirectly effective. The changes take some time to happen & it doesn’t happen straight away. Effects could be fragile and its role in social influence is limited.

Question 11

Weakness

Answer 11

Barriers to social change. Researchers found that people are less likely to behave in environmentally friendly ways due to not wanting to be associated with stereotypical and minority environmentalists. They were rated as man haters. Off putting to maj. they want to influence.