Influence + change

• What is the focus of the study material regarding social change?

  Lessons from minority influence research
• What are the steps in how minority social influence creates social change as illustrated by the African-American civil rights movement?

  1. Drawing attention through social proof
  2. Consistency
  3. Deeper processing of the issue
  4. The augmentation principle
  5. The snowball effect
  6. Social cryptomnesia
• What was the state of segregation in America during the 1950s?

  Black and white segregation applied to all parts of America.
• How did civil rights marches contribute to social change?

  They drew attention to the problem of segregation.
• What role did consistency play in the civil rights movement?

  Civil rights activists maintained a consistent position despite being a minority.
• What was the effect of deeper processing in the civil rights movement?

  It led people to think deeply about the unjustness of segregation.
• What does the augmentation principle refer to in the context of social change?

  It refers to individuals risking their lives to support their beliefs.
• Who were the freedom riders and what did they do?

  They were mixed racial groups challenging racial segregation in transport.
• What was the snowball effect in the civil rights movement?

  It describes how activists gained more support over time, leading to significant changes.
• What significant legislation was passed in 1964 related to civil rights?

  The US Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination.
• What is social cryptomnesia?

  It is when people remember that change occurred but not how it happened.
• How did Solomon Asch's research contribute to understanding social change?

  It highlighted the importance of dissent in breaking the power of the majority.
• How do environmental and health campaigns use conformity processes?

  They appeal to normative social influence by showing what others are doing.
• What is an example of a normative message used in campaigns?

  "Bin it-others do" on litter bins.
• What did Stanley Milgram's research demonstrate about obedience?

  It showed the importance of disobedient role models in reducing obedience rates.
• What is the process of gradual commitment as suggested by Philip Zimbardo?

  It describes how small instructions lead to larger ones, making resistance difficult.
• What did Jessica Nolan et al. (2008) study regarding social influence?

  • Aimed to change energy-using habits
  • Used messages on doors in San Diego
  • Found significant decreases in energy usage with normative messages
• What was the control message used in Nolan et al.'s study?

  It asked residents to save energy without referencing others' behavior.
• What did the review by David Foxcroft et al. (2015) find about social norms interventions?

  It found only a small reduction in drinking quantity and no effect on frequency.
• What does Charlan Nemeth (2009) argue about minority influence?

  It leads to divergent thinking and better decision-making.
• What is the limitation regarding deeper processing in minority influence?

  Some argue that majority influence may create deeper processing instead.
• What did Diane Mackie (1987) suggest about majority influence?

  It may lead to deeper processing when views differ.
• What are the methods used in the charity project described?

  • Residents were asked to help a local charity
  • 20 flats received a descriptive project message
  • Remaining flats received a control message asking for commitment
• What type of research method was used in the charity project?

  It was a field experiment.
• What is one strength of the research method used in the charity project?

  It allows for real-world application of findings.
• What sampling method was used in the charity project?

  It was a random sampling method.
• What is one limitation of the charity project study?

  It may not be generalizable to other populations.
• How can minorities bring about social change according to the study material?

  By consistently presenting their views and encouraging deeper thinking.