Social Influence Prcess In Social Chnge Content

Question 1

What did Moscovi (1980) say was needed for social change to happen?

Answer 1

‘Conversion’ - an individual who changes to minority view when exposed to a persuasive argument under certain conditions

Question 2

What are the steps to social change through minority influence?

Answer 2

. Drawing attention
. Consistency
. Deeper processing
. Augmentation principle
. Snowball effect
. Social cryptomnesia

Question 3

What is social cryptomnesia?

Answer 3

When people have a memory that change has occurred but don’t remember how it happened

Question 4

What are some historical examples of social change?

Answer 4

Suffragette movement and civil rights movement

Question 5

Why don’t the majority usually bring about social change?

Answer 5

They are more concerned with retaining the status quo

Question 6

How can social change occur through drawing attention to an issue

Answer 6

• if their views are different to those held by majority, it creates a conflict they are motivated to reduce
• EG: suffragettes used educational, political and militant tactics to draw attention to their issue

Question 7

How is consistency of position key for social change

Answer 7

• minorities are more successful when they express their arguments consistently
  EG: Suffragettes were consistent in their views, regardless of attitudes around them

Question 8

How is the augmentation principle key in social change

Answer 8

• if a minority appears willing to suffer for their views, they are seen as committed and taken more seriously

Question 9

How is the snowball effect key for social change

Answer 9

• minority influence initially has a small effect, but this spreads more widely as more people consider the issue being promoted, until it reaches tipping point leading to wide scale social change