Minority Influence

Question 1

What does minority influence lead to?

Answer 1

Leads to conversion, when individuals change private views due to minority influence

Question 2

3 things minority groups should have to be convincing

Answer 2

• Committed
• Flexible
• Consistent

Question 3

Committed

Answer 3

When members of minority demonstrate dedication to belief, making sacrifices (augmentation principle) or by risk taking and being inconvenienced, show they are not acting out of self interest

Question 4

Consistent

Answer 4

Minority repeatedly gives the same message over and over, majority continually reassess their belief and consider the issue more carefully

Question 5

Flexible

Answer 5

• Non-dogmatic is when minority show they can listen to others and therefore majority will take them more seriously and in turn consider their argument

Question 6

What is the snowball effect?

Answer 6

Minority influence initially has a small effect but as it spreads people are converted to minority, when the minority become the majority it is the snowball effect

Question 7

What is social crypto-amnesia?

Answer 7

Due to this being a slow process sometimes the process is unconscious and the person may not know where the new idea has even arisen from

Question 8

Moscovici (+)

Answer 8

• 172 female pp’s told they are taking part in colour perception task
• Groups of 6 two confederates, shown 36 slides with varying blue
  
  • Had to state colour aloud
• Consistent variation said all 36 were green - 8.2% of the time swayed the majority
• Inconsistent condition said 24 were green, rest blue - only 1.25% of the time swayed the majority
• Consistent minority better than inconsistent minority

Question 9

Ecological Validity?

Answer 9

No, studies done in labs with artificial tasks

Question 10

Gender Bias?

Answer 10

Yes, only used females

Question 11

Practical Application?

Answer 11

Yes, explains reasons for minority influence in the real world

e.g. suffragettes