Social Influence and Social Change Flashcards
(34 cards)
When does social change occur?
When societies as a whole adopt new attitudes, beliefs and behaviours
What is the time length for social change to occur?
Continually but at a gradual pace
Who are the main force for driving force for social change?
Minority influence
What is the process of social change by minority influence?
- Drawing attention
- Consistency of position
- Deeper processing
- The augmentation principle
- The snowball effect
- Social cryptomnesia
What is the first step for social change to occur by minority influence?
Drawing attention
What comes after ‘drawing attention’ in the social change process?
Consistency of position
What is before ‘augmentation principle’ in the social change process?
Deeper processing
What comes after the ‘deeper processing’ in the social change process?
Augmentation principle
What comes after the ‘augmentation principle’ in the social change process?
The snowball effect
What come after the ‘snowball effect’ in the social change process?
Social crytomnesia
What anagram can be used to remember the social change process?
- Drawing attention = A
- Consistency of position = Cat
- Deeper processing = Did
- The augmentation principle = A
- The snowball effect = Smelly
- Social cryptomnesia occurs S**t
What does it mean by ‘drawing attention’ in the social change process?
Highlighting a concern
What does it mean by ‘consistency of postion’ in the social change process?
Display an unswerving message
What does it mean by ‘deep processing’ in the social change process?
Many people who simply accept the status quo start to think further
What does it mean by ‘augmentation principle’ in the social change process?
Minorities take risks to further the cause
What does it mean by ‘snowball effect’ in the social change process?
People switch from a majority position to a minority one
What does it mean by ‘social cryptomnesia’ in the social change process?
People have a memory that change has occurred but some people have no memory of the events leading to that change
What as research into conformity shown about social change?
- Dissenters make social change more likely
- Using majority influence and normative social influence can cause social change
What did Nolan et al (2008) do?
- Hung messages on the front of people houses
- Normative social influence message on getting people to reduce their energy usage
What did Nolan et al (2008) find?
-Decrease in energy usage compared to control group
Does Nolan et al (2008) support the fact that social change can occur by normative social influence?
Yes
What did Nemeth (1986) suggest?
Effects of minority influence is indirect and delayed
Why are the effects of social change indirect?
Majority is influence only in matters related to the central issue and not the issue itself
Why are the effects of social change delayed?
Effects take time to show