Minority Influence

The theory of minority influence was suggested by

• Milgram (1974)

• Moscovici (1976)

• Asch (1950)

• French & Raven (1959)

Which of these things helps minorities influence the majority? (pick 2)

• Using informational social influence to change the majority's beliefs

• Using normative social influence to pressure the majority to comply

• Being consistent in their demands

• Being closer to the authority figure

When the minority succeeds in getting the majority to change their beliefs and agree with the minority, this is known as...

• Conversion

• Compliance

• Conformity

• Identification

How does conversion begin?

• Cognitive dissonance

• Cognitive consistency

Cognitive dissonance occurs when we feel stressed from...

• having conflicting beliefs, ideas, behaviours etc.

• competing information in the short term memory store

Which three ways do we use to resolve cognitive dissonance?

• enter an agentic state of obedience

• Reduce importance of dissonant beliefs

• Add new beliefs to outweigh dissonant beliefs

• Change our beliefs by converting

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the success of minority influence?

• Consistency of the minority

• Legitimacy of the context

• Flexibility of the minority

• Whether the minority is part of the in- or out-group

Nemeth (1986) found that the majority was more likely to listen to the minority view IF the minority was also willing to give way.

• Consistency of the minority

• Flexibility of the minority

• Whether the minority is part of the in- or out-group

Moscovici's (1969) Blue-Green Study found that the majority was more likely call the blue squares "green" when both minority confederates said the squares were "green"

• Consistency of the minority

• Flexibility of the minority

• Whether the minority is part of the in- or out-group

Rose is religious and most of her church thinks LGBT people are sinners. She ignores her atheist friends when they try to tell her LGBT people are good people. But when one of her church members said "LGBT people are not evil", she started to listen and change her mind.

• Consistency of the minority

• Flexibility of the minority

• Whether the minority is part of the in- or out-group