Social change notes

What is social influence?

The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviours, including conformity, obedience and minority influence.

What does social change refer to?

When whole societies rather than just individuals adopt new attitudes, beliefs and ways of doing things.

Give a real world example of minority social influence creating social change.

The African-American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

How did social proof play a role in the civil rights movement?

Civil rights marches drew attention to segregation, providing social proof of the issue.

What characterized the consistency of the civil rights marches?

Millions participated over years, always presenting non-aggressive messages.

What did deeper processing encourage regarding social issues?

It encouraged people to think more about the issue at hand.

What does the augmentation principle state about individuals in social movements?

Individuals risk their lives for their beliefs, reinforcing their message.

What is the snowball effect in the context of social movements?

Activists gradually gaining attention and support, leading to significant changes like the US civil rights act in 1964.

What is social cryptoamnesia?

The phenomenon where social change occurs but some people have no memory of the events that led to it.

How did Asch’s research contribute to understanding of social change?

When one confederate gave correct answers, it broke the majority's unanimity and encouraged others to do the same.

What is normative social influence?

A type of social influence that leads to conformity based on the desire to be accepted or liked.

How can obedience play a role in social change according to Milgram’s research?

The presence of disobedient role models can decrease obedience rates.

What is the process of gradual commitment in creating social change?

Once a small instruction is obeyed, it becomes harder to resist larger requests, leading to behavior drift.

What did Nolan et al's (2008) research demonstrate?

Using messages about how others are reducing energy usage can lead to significant decreases in energy usage.

What did Foxcroft et al (2015) find regarding the social norms approach?

Only a small reduction in drinking quantity was found and no effect on drinking frequency in students.

What does Nemeth (2009) claim about social change?

Social change is due to the divergent thinking inspired by minorities, leading to better decisions.

How might deeper processing be viewed in terms of majority influence?

Deeper processing can occur when you disagree with the majority, prompting you to consider their arguments.

What was the effect of the civil rights movement on US society?

It led to significant changes in attitudes and legislation regarding civil rights.

Explain the role of disobedient role models in social influence.

Disobedient role models can inspire others to resist authority and create social change.

What is an example of social change influenced by minority behavior?

The LGBTQ+ rights movement is an example of minority influence leading to societal change.

Define the term 'social proof' in relation to social influence.

Social proof refers to the phenomenon where individuals look to the behavior of others to guide their own actions.

What does the term 'activism' signify in the context of social change?

Activism signifies efforts to promote, impede, or direct social, political, economic, or environmental reform.

How does the majority's view affect individual perspectives according to social influence theories?

The majority's view can create deeper processing in individuals who disagree, forcing them to evaluate differing arguments.

What was the primary aim of the African-American civil rights movement?

To end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

How do consistent messages support social movements?

Consistent messages reinforce the movement's identity and facilitate collective understanding.

What impact did the public demonstrations have in historical movements like civil rights?

They drew attention to injustices and rallied wider community support for change.

Summarize the role of cognitive dissonance in social influence.

Cognitive dissonance prompts individuals to adapt their beliefs or attitudes to align with their behaviors or group expectations.

What is a major outcome of social movements in terms of legislation?

Many social movements lead to important legislative changes that reflect new societal norms.