minority influence

Question 1

define minority influence

Answer 1

a form of social influence where people reject the established norm of the majority of the group members and move to the position of the minority

Question 2

what type of conformity does minority influence lead to

Answer 2

internalisation
(as public and private beliefs are changed)

Question 3

what are the 3 main processes in minority influence

Answer 3

consistency
commitment
flexibility

Question 4

explain how consistency leads to minority influence

Answer 4

the minority must stick to their views if they are going to influence. This leads to the majority thinking maybe they have a point

Question 5

what are the 2 forms consistency can take

Answer 5

synchronic consistency
diachronic consistency

Question 6

define synchronic consistency

Answer 6

general agreement between people in the minority group where they are all saying the same thing

Question 7

define diachronic consistency

Answer 7

over time as they have been saying it for some time now

Question 8

explain how commitment leads to minority influence

Answer 8

minorities do extreme things to make their point thus showing commitment to the cause. This is known as the augmentation principle as it causes the majority to pay more attention to the point being made

Question 9

explain how flexibility leads to minority influence

Answer 9

Nemeth (1986)
suggests arguments need to be adapted when counter arguments are presented so the point seems reasonable and valid

Question 10

explain how the snowball effect leads to minority influence

Answer 10

as time progresses more people are converted so gradually the minority view becomes the majority

Question 11

what is the research that provides the research support for consistency

Answer 11

Moscovici’s blue/green study

a group of 6 people were asked to view a set of 36 blue coloured slides that varied in intensity and then state whether the slides were blue or green

in each group there were 2 confederates who constantly said the slides were green

participants gave the same wrong answer on around 8.42% of the trials

Question 12

what meta analysis provides research support for consistency

Answer 12

Wood et al (1947) conducted a meta analysis of almost 100 similar studies and found minorities that were seen as being consistent were the most influential