minority influence

Question 1

consistency

Answer 1

diachronic: repeat the same message over time.
synchronic: all members give the same message.
majority members may consider minority position and rethink their own

Question 2

commitment

Answer 2

drawing attention to their cause by doing extreme activities that pose a risk= augmentation principle

Question 3

flexibility

Answer 3

ability of the minority to adapt their views in response to other perspectives. Being too rigid = minority seems dogmatic, while showing flexibility makes their position more persuasive and less likely to be dismissed.

Question 4

snowball effect

Answer 4

small initial influence from minority group can gradually grow, gaining more support over time. As more people adopt the minority’s views, the influence becomes stronger = widespread social change.

Question 5

strength- support for consistency

Answer 5

Moscovici study- consistent minority (calling blue sides green) influenced ppts 8% of the time, inconsistent minority influenced 1%= consistency may influence but many still resist

Question 6

strength- support for flexibility

Answer 6

Nemeth- rigid minority arguing for low compensation in mock jury was less persuasive then flexible minority that compromised= adaptability strengthens influence

Question 7

weakness- artificial studies

Answer 7

studies use artificial tasks that do not reflect real life social movements, where influence involves personal/important issues- Moscivici- calling blue sides green is not realistic as influence happens on a much more larger scale= cannot fully explain how deep-rooted societal changes occur, limiting explanatory power when applied to real-life contexts.

Question 8

strength- real life application

Answer 8

The American Civil Rights Movement is a real-life example that closely mirrors the steps proposed by the minority influence theory. Activists like Martin Luther King Jr. drew attention to racial injustice (through marches and speeches), maintained consistency, and faced imprisonment (augmentation principle). The growing awareness created a snowball effect, leading to legal and cultural change (Civil Rights Act 1964). This strengthens the theory’s real-world relevance, showing that minority influence can result in large-scale social change, though the process took years, supporting the idea that it’s gradual.