Social Change

Question 1

What is meant by social change?

Answer 1

Social change refers to a change in attitude, behaviours or laws on a large scale within social norms e.g. suffragette movement in UK won womens right to vote in 1920

Question 2

How can a minority attempt to influence social change with consistency, commitment and flexibility?

Answer 2

• when a minority has an idea they must remain consistent by having same belief bw members of the group, over a long period of time
• they must also show commitment by showing dedication and making personal sacrifices
• however minority must also be flexible and not rigid by showing compromise if they want to change the majs bhvs/beliefs

Question 3

What happens once the minority have remained consistent, commited and flexible during the process of social change?

Answer 3

• if minority remain consistent, commited and flexible they can change bhvs/beliefs of maj publicly and privately, so internalisation
• once a few members of maj start to move towards minority, it gathers momentum as more ppl pay attention until minority idea eventually becomes majs idea
• this is called the snowball effect

Question 4

What happens once the minoritys idea eventually becomes the majs idea?

Answer 4

• after this, social crypto amnesia occurs which is when when maj remembers minorities idea but not that the idea came from the minority group
• social change has now occured as there has been a change in societys attitudes, bhvs and laws

Question 5

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate social change?

Answer 5

Strength - real life evidence to support role of minority influence in social change
Alt exp - NSI
Discussion - RTC - NSI doesnt produce long term social change