Minority Influence AO3

Question 1

Strength of Minority Influence (Research Support - Moscovici)

Answer 1

Moscovici et al. (1969) found that consistent minority opinions led to increased conformity in the majority, even when the minority was outnumbered. This supports the idea that minority influence can lead to attitude change when the minority is consistent.

Question 2

Strength of Minority Influence (Real-World Application - Social Change)

Answer 2

Minority influence can explain social change. Civil rights movements, such as those led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., demonstrate how small, consistent minorities can gradually influence the attitudes of the majority and bring about societal changes.

Question 3

Weakness of Minority Influence (Artificial Tasks in Studies)

Answer 3

Studies like Moscovici’s (1969) often use artificial tasks, like identifying color slides, which lack ecological validity. This means the findings may not generalize to real-world situations, where minority influence occurs on more meaningful and complex issues.

Question 4

Weakness of Minority Influence (The Role of Majority Influence)

Answer 4

The theory places too much emphasis on the power of the minority to influence, while underestimating the role of majority influence. In real-world settings, the majority can have a strong and sometimes overpowering influence, reducing the effectiveness of minority influence.