Social influence - social change

Question 1

Define ‘social change’

Answer 1

when whole societies (not just individuals) adopt new beliefs/ attitudes/ behaviours of minority so it becomes ‘the norm’

Question 2

Social change and minority influence

Answer 2

Consistency (diachronic)

Commitment (augmentation principle)

Flexibility (non-dogmatic)

Snowball effect
(slow process, then as more people convert to minority view the process speeds up)
(NSI - minority has increased so much in size that remaining people conform to avoid social disapproval)

Question 3

Social change and conformity

Answer 3

NSI - want to fit in/ not be rejected by group

ISI - convinced by evidence

Question 4

Social change and obedience

Answer 4

Change in laws

Question 5

Six steps of minority influence on social change

Answer 5

1) Drawing attention

2) Cognitive conflict
- If min. view conflicts with existing maj. view then majority may think more deeply about issues being raised

3) Consistency

4) Augmentation principle

5) Snowball effect

6) Social cryptomnesia
- Maj groups adopts view of minority group, but forgets where view came from
- Minority not given credit for change