Social Influence - Minority Influence

Question 1

Define minority influence

Answer 1

When an individual or small group influence the majority to change their attitudes or behaviour about an issue

Question 2

Give three examples of minority influence

Answer 2

• Suffragettes
• Black Lives Matter
• Just Stop Oil

Question 3

What are the three main factors that impact minority influence?

Answer 3

• consistency
• commitment
• flexibility

Question 4

Define consistency

Answer 4

• repeatedly give their opinion
• shows they will not be deterred
• in it for the long haul

Question 5

Define commitment

Answer 5

• greater influence to the cause and to making a change
• even willing to put life at risk
• shows they should be taken seriously

Question 6

Define flexibility

Answer 6

• shows they are willing to compromise
• must negotiate their position rather than enforce it to gain support

Question 7

Briefly describe Moscovici’s study into minority influence

Answer 7

• conducted a re-run of Asch’s study, but in reverse
• instead of one participant among many confederates, he placed two confederates together with four participants
• shown 36 slides which were clearly different shades of blue
• two parts: first part the confederates answered green for all slides, second part they answered green 24 times and blue 12 times

Question 8

Describe the results for Moscovici’s study into minority influence

Answer 8

• consistent minority influenced the majority 8.42% of the time
• inconsistent minority influence the majority 1.25% of the time
• 32% of all participants judged the slide to be green at least once

Question 9

Give one strength of Moscovici’s study into minority influence

Answer 9

Explains how consistency can lead to minority influence

Question 10

Give one weakness of Moscovici’s study into minority influence

Answer 10

Artificial setting meaning low ecological validity