Role Of Social Influence In Social Change

Question 1

Social influence in social change

Answer 1

When there is a shift in beliefs or behaviour of an entire population and previously accepted norm changes to something new. Includes using minority influence, encouraging internal locus of control and disobedience to authority

Question 2

Minority influence

Answer 2

Main cause of social change
Persuade majority to adopt their pov
Must have internal locus of control to resist compliance while being able to disobey authority figures

Question 3

Snowball effect

Answer 3

New idea spreads and builds up over time in the majority to eventually be adopted as majority opinion
Those who refuse to be influenced will eventually comply
New majority influence becomes law and ppl forced to obey it
Ie shift in race or sexuality

Question 4

AO3

Answer 4

• social change is not that simple. Bashir suggests social barriers are largely due to stereotypes which many have. Ie many unwilling to recycle due to label of being weird or tree hugger. So minority influence and social change are not always completely effective
• mackie suggests that role of minority influence is very limited becuz we are more likely to change our views if majority view is dif to our own as we take comfort in knowing many other ppl share our view when they don’t we become unsettled