Social Influence And Social Change A01&3

Question 1

Strength

Answer 1

P-research support for role of normative social influence in social change
E-Nolan et al. Hung messages on front doors of houses. The key message was most residents are trying to reduce energy usage
E-significant decreases in energy use compared to control group who saw messages to save energy with no reference to other people’s behaviour
L-conformity can lead to social change through the operation of NSI

Question 2

Limitation

Answer 2

P-minority influence is only indirectly effective in creating social change
E-nemeth suggests the effects of minority influence are indirect and delayed, it took decades for attitudes against drink-driving etc
E-indirect: the majority is influenced only on matters related to the central issues, and not the issue itself
L-using minority influence to explain social change is limited because it shows that affects are fragile and it’s role is social influence narrow

Question 3

Limitation

Answer 3

P-methodological issues in this area of research
E-explanations of social change rely on studies by moscovici, Asch and milgram
E-these can be evaluated in terms of methodology, mainly over the artificial nature of the tasks and whether the group dynamics reflect real-life
L-these criticisms apply to the evaluation of explanations for the link between social influence processes and social change

Question 4

Limitation

Answer 4

P-identification is an important variable overlooked in minority influence research
E-Bashir et al suggest that people are less likely to behave in environmentally friendly ways because they wanted to avoid label of being minority ‘environmentalists.’
E-ppts rated environmental activists negatively, minorities wanting social change should avoid behaving in ways that reinforce stereotypes; off-putting to the majority
L-suggests that being able to identify with a minority group is just as important as agreeing with their views in terms of changing behaviour