PSYC315 Lecture Notes: Minority Influence and Group Dynamics

40 practice Q&A flashcards based on the provided notes.

What is a key idea about the direction of social influence discussed in the notes?

Social influence can flow from minority to majority, not only from the majority to the minority.

In the earliest minority influence test described, how many confederates were used?

Two confederates.

In that test, what color did the confederates claim?

Green.

What color did participants originally say before exposure to the confederates?

Blue.

What condition made the minority influence test successful?

The confederates consistently stating green.

In the compensation example, what happened when two people consistently argued for a lower amount?

Others lowered their suggested compensation as well.

Are minority influence effects persistent over time?

Yes, they are persistent and can lead to lasting opinion change.

What is the sleeper effect in minority influence?

The minority's influence is not immediately apparent; people may not realize they have been influenced at first.

How do majority and minority messages differ in their impact on information processing?

Majority messages are often agreeable, leading people to look for points of agreement; minority messages prompt more detailed thinking.

What are normative and informational influence?

Normative is influence to be liked or accepted; informational is influence due to information about reality.

What is a key requirement for a minority to be effective?

Consistency across all group members.

What does 'investment' mean in minority influence?

Appearing to care about the cause and showing passion to convince others.

How does an ulterior motive affect minority influence?

If the minority has an ulterior motive, they are less likely to be influential.

How should you approach persuasion to avoid failure?

Avoid being too rigid; you should come across as flexible.

What interpersonal tactics help persuasion?

Show commonalities and acknowledge others' fears and doubts.

How long does it typically take to change someone's opinion?

It takes a while; attitude change is a gradual process.

What happens if you censor the minority's message?

The message rebounds; people may become more receptive once they are told not to listen.

How do people typically react when others try to suppress a minority point?

They may come to believe the minority had a strong point.

What is the effect of double minorities on influence?

Double minorities are less influential.

How does ingroup status affect influence?

Belonging to the ingroup can increase influence within that group.

For Asch and Sherif, the reality of groups emerges from what?

Perceptions of themselves as members of the same social group.

In the Asch line studies, approximately what percentage conformed?

83% conformed.

In intergroup behavior contexts, what is likely true about variability?

There is high variability in the aggregate's attitudes and behaviour.

According to Van Dick et al. (2018), successful leaders are seen as what?

Charismatic.

According to Zimbardo (2007), when people join groups they gain what?

A social identity.

What does 'consistency' refer to in minority influence?

All group members agreeing and maintaining a consistent stance.

If a minority appears sincere with no ulterior motive, what is likely?

They are more likely to be influential.

What is a long-term effect of minority influence on beliefs?

It can lead to lasting belief changes.

How do majority messages typically influence processing relative to minority messages?

Majority messages are often accepted more easily; minority messages require more critical processing.

What role does the concept of 'investing in the cause' play in minority influence?

Demonstrating commitment helps persuade others that the cause is important.

What happens when you attempt to censor minority messages?

The effect backfires and may increase attention to the message.

How does group membership influence cross-group persuasion?

Ingroup members can be more influential to other ingroup members than to outgroup members.

What is the difference between normative and informational influence in terms of motivation?

Normative aims for acceptance; informational aims for truth based on new information.

What must the minority demonstrate about their stance to be effective?

Consistency and apparent belief in the cause.

What is a key implication of the sleeper effect for persuasion?

Influence can occur without immediate awareness, with effects emerging later.

What is a common misperception about minority influence's effect on the majority?

The majority's beliefs can change due to minority influence, even if not immediately recognized.

What did the Asch studies reveal about how participants answered after the study?

Participants often gave correct answers after the study because they did not truly believe the group, they were just conforming.

What is the central theme of Lecture 8?

Minority influence and how it differs from majority influence, including consistency, investment, and processing.

What does the term 'outgroup' refer to in these notes?

A group that is not part of the observer's own group; contrasted with the ingroup.