Minority influence

What is minority influence?

• form of social influence- a small number persuade others to adopt beliefs/attitudes/behaviours- more likely to lead to internalisation pub and priv

What was Moscovici’s experiment?

Blue-green slides- 172 pps, 4pp:2con., 36 slides all blue

• Condition A- green conf. consistent, B- 24 green 12 blue

• A- 32% at least one error, green 8.42% of trials

• Inconsistentp 1.25%

• Minorities can influence majorities- strongest when consistent

What is consistency?

Keeping same beliefs over time (diachronic) and between all individuals (synchronic)- draws arrenrtion to view, increases interest, people will rethink their own views

What is commitment?

Showing dedication e.g. througjhpersonal sacrifice/risk- shows not acting out of self interest e.g. may engage in extreme activities- maj. pay more attention- augmentation principle

What is flexibility?

Not appearing unbending and unreasonable- accepting possibility of valid and reasonable compromise

• Nemeth- groups of 4 agreeing on compensatin, 1 conf, inflex ancd flex conbdition, inflex condirion little/ no inflyencce

Flexibility leads to deeper processing, conversion to different viewpoint ocer time, snowball effect

What are the strengths of MI?

• Wood et. al analysis- consistent minorities most onfluential, mimimum requiremenr

• Martin et al- research support- deeper processing

  • CP- less distinction of majority and minority in real world, also differentiation in wealth, power- absence of social complexities reduces EV

• Crano and Gaffney- explaining populism

What are the limitations of MI?

• Task artificiality e.g. blue green slides, low EV and mundane realism, far removed from minority attempts to infleunce in the real world e.g., campaigning where outrcomes more important