Social Change Flashcards
Define social change
When a society adopts a new way of thinking or acting which then becomes the norm. It occurs when a minority view challenges the majority view and is eventually accepted as the majority
What are three examples of social change?
Votes for women, nazi extermination of Jews and Nelson Mandela
What are the six stages of social change?
Draw attention to the change, be consistent, deep processing, the augmentation principle, the snowball effect and social crypto amnesia
How can you draw attention to an issue?
By holding marches and posters
How can deeper processing aid social change?
They begin to think about the consequences of the change rather than just accepting the current majority view
How can the augmentation process help social change?
Social change can happen if the minority appear to do so no matter what the consequences are to themselves
How does the snowball effect help social change?
As other members start to agree with the minority they gain more power and therefore influence more people
What is social crypto amnesia?
People having a memory that change has occurred but don’t remember how it happened
What is the research into the role of conformity in social change?
In Aschs variation one confederate gave the correct answer throughout the procedure and the power of the majority was broken. Social change is encouraged by drawing attention to the majority
What is the research into the role of obedience in social change?
In Milgrams variation where a confederate refused to give a shock obedience dropped. Also in Nolan et al, he hung messages to reduce energy. When other people’s opinions were given there was a decrease in energy use. This shows that conformity can lead to social change through normative social influence
