minority influence

Question 1

Moscovici

Answer 1

Moscovici investigated consistency by placing participants into one of 2 groups, and they had to say if the slides shown were either green or blue. In one group, the confederates were consistent in giving the incorrect answer and 8% of participants agreed with the confederates. Whereas when confederates were inconsistent in giving the incorrect answer, only 1% of participants agreed. So when minority consistent = gain more support.

Question 2

AO3 - compensation to ski lift accident

Answer 2

Nemeth created groups of 3 participants and one confederate (the minority). They had to decide how much compensation to give the victim of a ski lift accident. When the confederate was consistent, arguing for a low amount he had no effect. However when he compromised a little and moved to a slightly higher amount the majority changed their opinion to the lower amount. So provides evidence for flexibility in bringing about minority influence.

Question 3

AO3 - Moscovici lab experiment

Answer 3

Moscovici’s study was a lab experiment and relied on artificial tasks and stimuli. This methodology therefore lacks mundane realism because the tasks do not reflect the scenarios within which minority groups would act in real life. This also means that the findings will lack ecological validity because the extent to which they can be generalised is limited.

Question 4

AO3 - minority often considered deviant

Answer 4

Minority groups are often considered by the majority to be deviant. The majority therefore may avoid agreeing with or accepting the minority’s point of view to prevent being labelled as deviant. The message of the minority will therefore be less influential due the majority focusing on the source of the message rather than the message itself.

Question 5

AO3 - slow and indirect

Answer 5

Minority influence is often slow and indirect. The majority may not be persuaded to change opinions immediately, and changes may only be noticeable over time. This makes it difficult to apply research findings to real-world examples of social change.
Despite this, real life examples such as the civil rights movement produced long-term effects, and therefore show how consistency, commitment and flexibility of a minority can influence a majority.