Social Influence- Minority Influence

Question 1

Minority influence

Answer 1

Creates a conversion/internalisation process, through a committed and consistent approach

Question 2

Three behavioural styles for a successful minority influence

Answer 2

Consistency
Commitment
Flexibility

Question 3

Consistency in minority influence

Answer 3

People first believe the minority is wrong, if they are consistent then it forces the majority to reassess their opinion.

Question 4

Commitment in minority influence

Answer 4

Suggests confidence, certainty, and courage. The minority has to be sure of themselves and brave to face a hostile majority.

Question 5

Flexibility in minority influence

Answer 5

Mugny (1982) suggests minorities have to negotiate their position with the majority rather than force it upon them.
But the minority must not be too flexible as to be inconsistent.

Question 6

Support for flexibility in minority influence

Answer 6

Nemeth and Brilmayar (1987)

Question 7

Nemeth and Brilmayar (1987)

Answer 7

P-
Deciding on compensation for a victim of a ski-lift accident
Groups of 4, one was a confederate
1. Minority argued for low compensation and refused to change their position
2. Minority argued for low compensation but compromised for a slightly higher rate.
F-
Inflexible minority had little influence, flexible minority had more influence

Question 8

Support for consistency

Answer 8

Moscovici et al (1969)

Question 9

Moscovici et al (1969)

Answer 9

A- determine whether a minority can influence a majority using consistency in a colour perception task.
P-
Ps pre tested for colour blindness.
172 female participants, randomly allocated into groups.
In a lab setting, each group was made of 4 Ps and 2 confederates.
They were asked to describe the colour of 36 slides.
Confederates were either:
Consistent- all slides were green
Inconsistent- 24 were green, 12 were blue
Control- no confederates
F-
Consistent- 8.4% of Ps yielded
Inconsistent- only 1.3% of Ps yielded
Control- only 0.25% described the slides as green
C-
Minority can influence the majority and is more successful when consistent.