Social Influence: Minority Influence & Social Change

Question 1

Here is the first mark point for a definition of minority influence ‘minority influence is a form of social influence where members of the majority group change their beliefs or behaviours because of the minority influencing their decision, this usually leads to internalisation’.

What is the second mark point to complete the definition?

Answer 1

The minority must be consistent, show commitment and be flexible in their views/beliefs.

Question 2

Which minority influence key term is being described? “Members of the minority should not be too dogmatic and rigid, they should adapt their point of view and accept reasonable counterarguments”

Answer 2

Flexibility

Question 3

What key term is being described here: The minority keep repeating the same beliefs to the majority both over time and between all individuals that form the minority group.

Answer 3

Consistency

Question 4

Describe Moscovici’s sample.

Answer 4

172 female ppts

Question 5

In Moscovici’s research, what % of the majority changed their mind when the minority inconsistently called the blue slides ‘green’?

Answer 5

1%

Question 6

In Moscovici’s study what % of the majority changed their mind to be in line with the minority when the minority were consistent and committed?

Answer 6

8%

Question 7

What must the minority do to show commitment?

Answer 7

Show dedication and make personal sacrifices.

Question 8

What methodology did Moscovici use to investigate minority influence?

Answer 8

Lab experiment

Question 9

Which aspects of minority influence did Moscovici study?

Answer 9

Consistency and commitment.

Question 10

A03 Give one weakness of Moscovici’s research into consistency and commitment.

Answer 10

It lacks mundane realism.

Question 11

A03 Why does Moscovici’s research lack mundane realism?

Answer 11

Unrealistic task of stating the colour of a slide.

Question 12

Nemeth and Brillmayer (1987) created a mock jury situation and found that when a confederate put forward an alternative point of view and refused to compromise did not influence the majority. However, the a confederate who compromised did have an influence on the rest of the group.

Does this support or contradict minority influence?

Which aspect does this research support or contradict?

Answer 12

Support
Flexibility

Question 13

A03 Why is the lack of mundane realism in Moscovici’s study a weakness?

Answer 13

It is difficult to generalise the findings to real situations of minority influence where outcomes are more important.

Question 14

What does minority influence usually lead to?

Answer 14

Internalisation.

Question 15

What type of consistency is being described here?
“when the minority keep repeating the same beliefs to the majority over time”

Answer 15

Diachronic synchrony

Question 16

What type of consistency is being described here?
“when all individuals within the minority group are consistent with their beliefs”

Answer 16

Synchronic consistency

Question 17

Why does the minority showing commitment have an influence on the majority?

Answer 17

It makes them pay attention.

Question 18

When the majority group pays more attention to the minority group because of the commitment they have shown what is this known as?

Answer 18

The augmentation principle

Question 19

Dedication, personal sacrifices and extreme activities to draw attention to the minority views are all part of what aspect of minority influence?

Answer 19

Commitment

Question 20

Accepting reasonable counterarguments and adapting their point of view is part of what aspect of minority influence?

Answer 20

Flexibility

Question 21

What is the key term for when the majority start to listen to the minority and this builds momentum with more and more people moving over to the minority viewpoint?

Answer 21

Snowball effect.

Question 22

What were the two conditions in Moscovivi’s research?

Answer 22

Condition 1 - minority group were inconsistent that the blue slides were green
Condition 2 - minority group were consistent that the blue slides were green

Question 23

Define social change (1st mark point only)

Answer 23

Social change refers to a change in attitudes, behaviours or laws. These a large scale changes where societies norms change.

Question 24

Give an example of social change.

Answer 24

The suffragette movement campaign for women’s right to vote.

Question 25

When the minority idea gathers momentum and eventually becomes the majority idea what is this known as?

Answer 25

The snowball effect.

Question 26

What is the key term for when the majority change their beliefs (publically and privately) to be in line with the minority beliefs?

Answer 26

Internalisation.

Question 27

In the role of social influence processes in social change, which social influence part of the process comes after internalisation and before social crypto-amensia?

Answer 27

Snowball effect

Question 28

In the role of social influence processes in social change, which social influence part of the process comes after the snowball effect and before social change?

Answer 28

Social crypto amnesia.

Question 29

What three things START the process of social change?

Answer 29

Consistency, commitment and flexibility.

Question 30

What key term is being described “when the majority remembers the minority idea but forgets that the idea came from the minority group. The two become separated”

Answer 30

Social crypto-amenesia.

Question 31

When social change occurs, what three things change in society?

Answer 31

Attitudes, behaviours and laws.

Question 32

What is meant by social crypto-amnesia?

Answer 32

When the majority remember the minority idea but not that it came from the minority group, the two have become separated.

Question 33

A03 How might NSI be used to bring about social change?

Answer 33

By providing information about what a group are doing, using normative messages.

Question 34

A03 Give an example of a normative message used in a litter campaign.

Answer 34

Bin-it, others do.

Question 35

Why does NSI lead to social change?

Answer 35

People conform to the minority idea to be liked. As the message becomes heard by the majority more and more people conform leading to social change.

Question 36

A03 Did Foxcroft (2015) find that normative social influence had an effect on alcohol consumption in students? What does this suggest about NSI and social change?

Answer 36

No.
NSI does not always lead to social change.

Question 37

A03 What is the real life evidence to support the role of minority influence in social change?

Answer 37

The suffragette movement.

Question 38

A03 Who provides research to support for the role of minority influence in social change?

Answer 38

Moscovici

Question 39

A03 What did Foxcroft find about the effect of NSI on alcohol consumption in students? What DID NSI affect and what did NSI NOT have an effect on in relation to students drinking?

Answer 39

Did affect quantity (how much students drank)
Did not affect frequency (how often students drank)

Question 40

How do we know social change has happened?

Answer 40

Society’s attitudes, behaviours and laws change.

Question 41

Name all three behaviours that enable a minority to influence a majority.

Answer 41

Consistency
Commitment
Flexibiity

Question 42

How can flexibility be shown by the minority?

Answer 42

Bring the change in as small changes or taking on some of the views/opinions of the majority.

Question 43

How can consistency be shown by the minority?

Answer 43

All people in the minority repeat the same message/behaviour over time.

Question 44

How can the minority to commitment?

Answer 44

The minority must show personal sacrifice/effort such as volunteering time or be willing to accept ridicule or criticism

or

The minority could conduct research and educate the majority e.g. advertising campaigns or give assemblies or lectures on the message