Minority influence

• What is minority influence?

  Minority influence refers to situations where one person or a small group influences the beliefs and behavior of others.
• How does minority influence differ from conformity?

  Minority influence involves a small group influencing the majority, while conformity involves the majority influencing others.
• What is the most likely outcome of minority influence?

  Minority influence is most likely to lead to internalization, changing both public behavior and private beliefs.
• Who first studied minority influence and what was the name of the study?

  Serge Moscovici first studied minority influence in his 'blue slide, green slide' study.
• What are the three main processes in minority influence?

  • Consistency
  • Commitment
  • Flexibility
• What is the role of consistency in minority influence?

  The minority must be consistent in their views to increase interest from others.
• What are the two forms of consistency in minority influence?

  Synchronic consistency (agreement within the minority) and diachronic consistency (agreement over time).
• What does commitment in minority influence entail?

  The minority must demonstrate commitment to their views, sometimes through extreme activities that present risk.
• What is the augmentation principle?

  The augmentation principle states that if a minority engages in extreme activities, it shows greater commitment and attracts more attention.
• Why is flexibility important in minority influence?

  Flexibility allows the minority to adapt their views and accept reasonable counterarguments, preventing them from appearing rigid.
• How does deeper processing contribute to minority influence?

  Deeper processing occurs when people hear new ideas from a consistent, committed, and flexible source, leading to conversion to the minority viewpoint.
• What is the snowball effect in minority influence?

  The snowball effect describes how increasing numbers of people switch from the majority to the minority position over time.
• What is a strength of research support for consistency in minority influence?

  • Moscovici et al.'s study showed that a consistent minority opinion had a greater effect on changing views.
  • Wendy Wood et al. (1994) found that consistent minorities were most influential in a meta-analysis of almost 100 studies.
• What is a strength of research support for deeper processing in minority influence?

  • Robin Martin et al. (2003) found that participants were less willing to change opinions after listening to a minority group.
  • This suggests that minority messages are more deeply processed and have a lasting effect.
• What is a limitation of research studies on minority influence?

  Research studies often create artificial tasks that do not reflect real-world social influence situations.
• Why is the distinction between majority and minority important in research studies?

  Clear distinctions allow for controlled studies, but real-world situations are more complex with power dynamics.
• What is a limitation regarding the external validity of minority influence research?

  Findings from minority influence studies lack external validity and may not apply to real-world situations.
• How can being in a minority position affect an individual's behavior?

  Being in a minority can lead to unique challenges and require flexibility in expressing views.
• What is the significance of commitment for minorities facing opposition?

  Commitment is crucial for minorities as they often face hostile opposition and must demonstrate strong dedication to their cause.
• How might the principles of minority influence apply in a jury decision-making scenario?

  Minority jurors may need to demonstrate consistency and commitment to influence the majority opinion.
• In what way can minority influence be observed in political campaigning?

  Minority political groups may use consistent messaging and demonstrate commitment to sway public opinion.
• What are the strengths and limitations of minority influence research?

  Strengths:

  • Research supports the importance of consistency and deeper processing.
  • Clear distinctions between majority and minority enhance understanding.

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Tasks are often artificial and lack external validity.
  • Real-world complexities are not fully captured in studies.