social Influence processes in social change

Question 1

what is social change?

Answer 1

• the social norms of society (i.e. the expected rules for behaviour) are largely determined by majority influence.
• social change is the process by which these norms change over time.

Question 2

what is the main cause of social change?

Answer 2

minority influence

Question 3

what does minority influence trigger social change by?

Answer 3

the snowball effect

Question 4

what is the snowball effect?

Answer 4

the gradual build-up of support that gains momentum
- minority becomes majority

Question 5

what are some examples of social change?

Answer 5

• suffragette views caused conflict, which continued for 15 years despite being imprisoned
• marches, protests etc to draw attention to issues

Question 6

what are the 2 types of consistency in minority influence?

Answer 6

• diachronic consistency (repeating the same message over time)
• synchronic consistency (all group members give the same message)

Question 7

what is the augmentation principle?

Answer 7

• if someone performs an action, despite costs and risks, the underlying motive driving that action is considered particularly strong

Question 8

social change essay AO1:

Answer 8

• caused by minority influence (commitment, consistency, flexibility)
• snowball effect
• normative SI
• informational SI
• obedience (laws)
• socio-crypto amnesia

Question 9

how does a minority effect social change?

Answer 9

minority groups are more successful in creating social change when they show consistency, flexibility and commitment in their views. gradually the minority turns into the majority due to the snowball effect

Question 10

how does obedience in minority groups create social change?

Answer 10

e.g. members of the gov are minority, they create laws that can lead to social change
- when laws are created, societies change to avoid punishment

Question 11

how does normative social influence/ compliance create social change?

Answer 11

behaviours or views can become the norm within a minority group, such as certain fashion trends or recycling
- those who go against this norm risk being rejected or ridiculed
- this norm can spread to wider society

Question 12

how does informational social influence/ internalisation create social change?

Answer 12

members of a minority group can provide info to majority, such as effects of climate change
- wider society changes behaviour because it accepts new evidence

Question 13

how does socio-crypto amnesia affect social change?

Answer 13

describes how a society adopts ideas from a minority group. however, once the mainstream adopt these ideas and they become the norm. the sacrifices made by minority in making these changes, are not acknowledged but forgotten

Question 14

evaluation: civil rights movement

Answer 14

ID: leaders in civil rights movement used social influence processes to create social change
EX: - consistency and commitment in their fight against racial segregation
- consistency through non-violent protests/ marches
- commitment through suffering abuse from law enforcement
AN: led to social change, including passing of civil rights act

Question 15

evaluation: LGBTQ movement

Answer 15

• consistency: core message of rights and equality
• flexibility: to influence social change they campaigned for civil partnerships, a strategic compromise which led to full legislation of same sex marriage

Question 16

evaluation: highly controlled lab research not possible

Answer 16

ID: highly controlled lab research not possible
EX: social change often occurs over extended periods, deals with highly sensitive topics, such an inequality, social injustice and is the sum of interactions of millions in society
AN: cause and effect cant be established , researchers depend on natural experiments, case studies and correlational research