Minority influence & social change

What is meant by flexibility in the context of minority influence?

Discuss consistency and flexibility as processes involved in minority influence.

Discuss research into minority influence.

Which factors affecting minority influence are illustrated by the following examples?

For each example, write the correct factor in the space provided.

Members of a religious group give up their Saturday mornings to distribute leaflets about the importance of worship.

An environmental group acknowledges that recycling can be time-consuming while emphasising its importance for the future of the planet.

All of the members of the ‘Flat Earth Society’ agree that the Earth is flat and not round.

Fewer and fewer people use single-use plastic items, such as water bottles and plastic straws.

Using your knowledge of social influence processes in social change, explain why fewer and fewer people are using single-use plastic items.

In a sixth form debating society, Samina is the only student in a group of six who does not believe that drugs should be legalised.

Using your knowledge of minority influence processes, explain two ways in which Samina could convince the other students in the debating society to agree with her.

The survey shows that fewer young people are smoking today than in 1987.

Using your knowledge of social influence processes in social change, explain possible reasons for this change in behaviour.

Jenny is a psychology teacher who works with six other teachers in the department. Jenny believes strongly that homework should not be graded as it distracts students from reading verbal feedback on their work. She would like her colleagues to stop grading work. The other members of the department do not agree but have told Jenny they are willing to have a meeting about it.

Using your knowledge of minority influence, explain how Jenny might be able to persuade the rest of the department to accept her view.