Social Influence Processes & Social Change

Question 1

What is Social Change?

Answer 1

A change in behaviour or beliefs at a societal level, rather than an individual level

Question 2

How many steps to Social Change are there?

Answer 2

6

Question 3

In order, what are the 6 Steps of Social Change?

Answer 3

1. A consistent, committed & flexible minority
2. Deeper processing & rethinking
3. Informational Social Influence
4. The Snowball Effect
5. Normative Social Influence
6. Social Cryptomnesia

Question 4

How does a minority aid Social Change?

Answer 4

By drawing attention to the viewpoint

Question 5

What is deeper processing and rethinking, triggered by a minority, also referred to?

Answer 5

The Augmentation Principle

Question 6

What is the Snowball Effect?

Answer 6

The phenomenon of an increasing number of people converting to the alternative viewpoint at an increasing speed

Question 7

What is Social Cryptomnesia?

Answer 7

The idea that change has occurred, but the process of it occurring and the events that led to it aren’t remembered by the general population, including who the minority was

Question 8

What evidence is there to support to idea that Normative Social Influence results in Social Change?

Answer 8

Nolan et al’s Energy Usage Campaign

Question 9

Which conflicting study suggests that the factors involved with Social Change don’t always lead to it?

Answer 9

Foxcroft’s Alcohol Intake Study

Question 10

How can studies supporting the processes involved with Social Change be criticised? (2 Points)

Answer 10

• For using artifical materials & situations, meaning they may not reflect real-world dynamics
• For being ethnocentric, as most of them used all American male participants