Minority influence

Question 1

What is Minority of influence

Answer 1

Form of social influence that leads to the majority converting their beliefs, values, or behavior to match the minority.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

Consistency
Commitment
Flexibility

Question 3

Consistency

Answer 3

Most effective when the minority keeps the same beliefs both over time and between all the individuals of that minority.

Effective as it draws attention to the minority view and may get the majority to reassess the situation and rethink their own views.

Question 4

Commitment

Answer 4

It is more powerful if the minority demonstrates dedication to their position, cause or activity eg.making personal sacrifices.

Question 5

Flexibility

Answer 5

Shows that by being flexible they are willing to listen and adapt their point of view.

This makes the ability more sympathetic to their cause and more likely to be seen as potential danger for serious change.

Question 6

Research into minority- Mischovi et al: Aim

Answer 6

To investigate if a constant minority can influence the majority in an unambiguous situation

Question 7

Miscovici et al: Procedure

Answer 7

32 groups
6 women
2 confederates
4 participants in each group
Shown 36 slides in different hues and asked what colour they were

Constant condition: confederates said green on all
Inconsistent condition: answered green on 24 trials and blue on 12 trials

Question 8

Miscovici et al: findings

Answer 8

Constant minority: 8.42%
Inconsistent minority: 1.25%
No confederates : 0.25%

Question 9

Miscovici et al: Conclusion

Answer 9

Suggests that although the minority does not have a numerical advantage, and the effect isn’t huge, a consistent behavioural style makes it significantly more influential than being inconsistent.

Question 10

Support research for flexibility

Answer 10

Supporting the idea that flexibility together with consistency aid minority influence.

Nemeth (1986) created group of three participants and one confederate who had to decide how much compensation to pay a victim of ski lift accident.

Question 11

Limitations

Answer 11

Lacking external validity

Lacks ecological validity as it took place in a lab therefore we can’t generalise.

Lacks population validity as it was only female undergraduates and this is a biased sample