minority influence

what is minority influence?

When a small minority group decides to try and convince the majority to adapt to their beliefs and views.

Happens over time and becomes internalised

What is consistency?

The minority group needs to keep spreading the message to gain traction + increases interest

• diachronic: saying the same thing over and long period of time

• synchronic: saying the same thing

what is commitment?

having some form of risk factor to show the majority that you are dedicated to the cause and it makes people start to listen

what is flexibility?

Nemeth: Being rigid and dogmatic deters people from taking interest in the cause. you need to be flexible and understanding of different people’s situations to make them feel like they can join the cause and not appear off putting.

what is the snowball effect?

when people from the minority tell others about their cause and those people tell others. soon everyone has heard or knows about it. more people adopt to their beliefs and now the minority becomes a majority

what is moscovici’s bluebgreen slide study?

• participants shown blue slides of different shades → 2 confeds said they’re green on 2/3 of the slides

• participants gave same wrong answer → 8.42% of trials

• 32% → gave same answer as the minority on at least one trial

• 2nd group → exposed to inconsistent minority → agreement fell to 1.25%

• control group → no confeds → got this wrong on just 0.25% of the trial

strength: research support for consistency

• Moscovici → consistent minority opinion = greater effect on other people than inconsistent opinion

• Wood → meta-analysis of 100 similar studies → minorities being consistent is a major factor in minority influence.

• Strong research evidence that demonstrates the importance of consistency.