Minority Influence - Consistency, Commitment, Flexibility, Suffragettes, LGBTQIA+, Climate activists, Moscovici’s blue-green study

What is minority influence?

When an individual, or a small group, change the behaviour and/or attitudes of a larger group

What is the likely result of minority influence? (3)

internalisation, a permanent change, due to informational social influence

Why does a minority need consistency to be successful?

They will only be influential if they maintain their view over a period of time

What are the two types of consistency?

diachronic, synchronic

What is diachronic consistency?

consistency over time

What is synchronic consistency?

consistency between group members

Why does a minority need commitment to be successful? (3)

if the supporters of the belief are willing to suffer for their views, they are taken more seriously by the majority group, they are more likely to be influential

Why does a minority need flexibility to be successful?

they need to be able to adapt and compromise

Why were the suffragettes successful due to consistency?

they had a consistent message that made them appear determined and credible

How did the suffragettes show their dedication and why did it make them successful? (5)

they risked imprisonment, public ridicule and physical harm, hunger strikes in prison gained them sympathy and public attention

How did the suffragettes demonstrate flexibility and how did this make them successful? (2)

They paused their campaign during WWI in order to provide support, shifting public opinion showing women were capable and responsible

When were women over the age of 30 who owned property given a right to vote as a result of the suffragette movement?

1918

When were women over the age of 21 given the right to vote as a result of the suffragette movement?

1928

How did LGBTQIA+ activists show commitment and how did this make them successful?

protest marches, sharing personal stories, risking backlash to humanise the issue and generate empathy

When was the Civil Partnership Act passed as a result of LGBTQIA+ activism?

2004

When was the Marriage Act passed as a result of LGBTQIA+ activism?

2013

When was the Civil Partnerships Act legalised as a result of LGBTQIA+ activism?

2019

How did climate activists show commitment through sacrifice? (4)

strikes, arrests, imprisonment, faced public backlash for road blockades

How did climate activists demonstrate flexibility and compromise?

working with politicians, showing a willingness to work within the system they are seeking to change

When did the UK parliament declare a climate emergency as a result of climate activism?

2019

Who performed the Blue-green study?

Moscovici et al

When did Moscovici et al perform the blue-green study?

1969

What was the aim of Moscovici’s experiment?

to investigate the effects of a consistent minority on a majority

What were the characteristics of the participants taking part in Moscovici’s experiment?

172 female participants

What did the participants have to do prior to Moscovici’s experiment and why? (2)

take an eye test, to ensure they were not colour blind

How does a minority being consistent, committed and flexible cause a majority to be influenced? (3)

it draws the majorities attention to the issue, which causes cognitive conflict within these individuals, which makes them more likely to internalise the minorities view

What did Xie, a psychologist, explain about the snowball effect related to minority influence?

you only need 10% of the majority to internalise the minorities view to be successful in influencing the majority