Minority Influence

Question 1

minority influence

Answer 1

• when a minority changes the beliefs/attitudes/behaviour of the majority
• leads to internalisation

Question 2

factors enhancing the effectiveness of MI

Answer 2

• consistency
• commitment
• flexibility

Question 3

consistency

Answer 3

MI more likely when member share the same beliefs and retain it over time

Question 4

Moscovici aim

Answer 4

to see if a consistent minority could convince a majority to give an incorrect answer in a colour perception task

Question 5

moscovici method

Answer 5

• 172 females, two groups of 6
• shown 36 slides of varying shades of blue
• 2/6 confederates
• condition A: confeds said all 36 green
• condition B: 24 green 12 blue

Question 6

moscovici findings

Answer 6

• 0.25% in control
• condition A: 8.42% agreed
• condition B: 1.25% agreed

Question 7

moscovici conclusion

Answer 7

• consistent minority is 6.75% more effective
• minorities can influence majority

Question 8

committtment

Answer 8

• majority pay more attention to minority
• more likely to integrate it into their personal viewpoint

Question 9

augmentation principal

Answer 9

risky/ extreme behaviour to demonstrate their committment to the cause

Question 10

flexibility

Answer 10

• MI more likely to occur when they’re willing to compromise as they’re not in a position of power
• means they can’t be viewed as unreasonable

Question 11

synchronic consistency

Answer 11

• consistency between all the people in the minority
• all saying the same thing

Question 12

diachronic synchrony

Answer 12

• consistency over time
• saying the same thing over a long time

Question 13

strengths of minority influence

Answer 13

Research support for flexibility
- Nemeth and Brilmayer: confeds who compromised where more successful that those who didnt
Valuable when not changing majority
- makes majority make better decisions

Question 14

limitations of minority influence

Answer 14

see book