The Role of Social Influence Processes in Social Change

• What are the examples of social change through MINORITY influence?


  Drawing attention to the issue, consistency of position, commitment
• What is the snowball effect?


  Momentum builds as more of the majority adopt the minority view. More people gradually start to pay attention to the minority view until it reaches a 'tipping point' which leads to wide scale social change.
• What is an example of social change through MAJORITY influence?


  Through normative social influence (NSI). If individuals in society believe that the majority are behaving differently to the way they behave, they may change their behaviour to avoid being seen as socially deviant.
• What is the definition of social cryptomnesia?

  Failing to recall how social change occurred and who were responsible for it
• What role does social cryptomnesia play in social change?

  It leads to forgetting the source of change and the original minority
• What is the outcome of social cryptomnesia in terms of norms?

  Norms are accepted without acknowledging the minority's contribution