AQA A Level Psychology复习笔记1.4.2 Role of Social Influence Processes in Social Change

Social change is the shift or change in society's beliefs, behaviours and attitudes, it is a continuous but gradual change and is usually, minority influence is the driving force behind societal changes. Minority viewpoints slowly win over the majority, making society itself change

• Minorities can change their beliefs, behaviours and the attitudes, usually through consistency, commitment and flexibility
• As people slowly convert to the minority, it has the snowball effect, where it gets bigger and bigger and becomes the majority
• Social change is a slow process, it allows the change to be gradual and not disrupt social order
• Many of those who use to hold the older unpopular beliefs have Social Cryptoamnisa, where they deny holding the old now popular beliefs or that they resisted change
• Minorities often used informed social influence to change the majorities beliefs, which can lead to internalisation
• Governments can bring social change quickly by changing laws to implement it and upholding those laws