Minority Influence - Evaluation

Question 1

Whats a strength of consistency?

Answer 1

Research supports it’s importance as Moscovici et al’s study shown that consistent minority opinion has greater effect than inconsistency. Wood et al conducted a meta analysis of nearly 100 similar studies and found the same thing

Suggests consistency is a major factor in minority influence

Question 2

Whats a strength of change?

Answer 2

Changing to minority involves deeper processing as Martin et al gave participants a message supporting a particular viewpoint and measured their support, one group heard minority agree and another heard majorty agree, then exposed to conflicting view and measured attitudes

People less willing to change opinion if listening to minority, shows their meassge more deeply processed and has a enduring effect

Question 3

What is a limitation of minority influence?

Answer 3

The task in moscovici’s study is artificial thus research is far
from how minorities attempt to change behaviour in real life. Jury decisions and political campaigning are much more important making studies like Moscovici et al’s lack external validity

Limited in what they can say about minority influence

Question 4

Whats a strength of internalisation?

Answer 4

Variation of blue-green slides was conducted, participants were allowed to write their answers down so responses were private not said outloud. Greater private agreement with minority = majority convinced by minority and changing views

Relunctant to publicly admit it, possibly due to not wanting to appear radical or weird

Question 5

Whats a limitation of minority influence related to complexity?

Answer 5

Real life social influence situations much more complex as more involved in difference between minority and majority than just numbers.

Majorities often have power and status, while minorities are committed to their causes.