Paper 1 - SOCIAL INFLUENCE
Minority Influence
What do I need to know?
What is minority influence?
How does flexibility enhance minority influence?
How does commitment enhance minority influence?
How does consistency enhance minority influence?
How can minority influence be evaluated?
Questions to answer in class:
1. Where would we be without minority influence?
2. Kathryn is really dedicated to promoting equal pay for women. She has had the same
view for years and gives the same message over and over again. She engages in
quite extreme activities to draw attention to her view, this is at risk to herself.
However, she is prepared to adapt her point of view when given valid counter-
arguments.
From the description of Kathryn, can you identify 3 factors that lead to minority
influence?
3.
Consistency, commitment, flexibility
4.
Marcus could show that he has been consistent by keeping on repeating the same message
about how great it would be to go travelling. He could show that he is committed by taking
the time out and planning things for travelling in the summer. He could show flexibility by
telling his friends that they can go to the beach while travelling.
, 5.
Consistency involves all members of the minority giving the same message over an
extended period of time. The minority showed consistency by repeatedly talking about how
recycling is good for the environment and by constantly recycling products. Commitment is
when the minorities engage in extreme activities and put themselves at risk to draw attention
to their case. They could have also shown commitment by still carrying out the activities
despite being called ‘strange’ by the majority which shows that they stand strong with what
they are doing. Flexibility is when the minority are able to negotiate with the majority to
enforce their views. They could show flexibility by showing that you can recycle and do other
leisurely activities at the same time. Therefore, these 3 factors may have persuaded the
majority to also recycle and eventually so many of the majority were converted to recycling
and so it became mainstream (the snowball effect) .
Minority Influence
What do I need to know?
What is minority influence?
How does flexibility enhance minority influence?
How does commitment enhance minority influence?
How does consistency enhance minority influence?
How can minority influence be evaluated?
Questions to answer in class:
1. Where would we be without minority influence?
2. Kathryn is really dedicated to promoting equal pay for women. She has had the same
view for years and gives the same message over and over again. She engages in
quite extreme activities to draw attention to her view, this is at risk to herself.
However, she is prepared to adapt her point of view when given valid counter-
arguments.
From the description of Kathryn, can you identify 3 factors that lead to minority
influence?
3.
Consistency, commitment, flexibility
4.
Marcus could show that he has been consistent by keeping on repeating the same message
about how great it would be to go travelling. He could show that he is committed by taking
the time out and planning things for travelling in the summer. He could show flexibility by
telling his friends that they can go to the beach while travelling.
, 5.
Consistency involves all members of the minority giving the same message over an
extended period of time. The minority showed consistency by repeatedly talking about how
recycling is good for the environment and by constantly recycling products. Commitment is
when the minorities engage in extreme activities and put themselves at risk to draw attention
to their case. They could have also shown commitment by still carrying out the activities
despite being called ‘strange’ by the majority which shows that they stand strong with what
they are doing. Flexibility is when the minority are able to negotiate with the majority to
enforce their views. They could show flexibility by showing that you can recycle and do other
leisurely activities at the same time. Therefore, these 3 factors may have persuaded the
majority to also recycle and eventually so many of the majority were converted to recycling
and so it became mainstream (the snowball effect) .
