PS270 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Group Polarization
Document Summary
Several determinants of minority influence: consistency, self confidence, and defection. More influential than a minority that wavers is a minority that sticks to its position. If minority consistently judges blue slides as green, members of the majority will occasionally agree. Experiments show that nonconformity is often painful which explains a minority slowness effect, a tendency for people with minority views to express them less quickly than people in the majority. Even when people in the majority know that the disagreeing person is factually or morally right, they may still, unless they change their position, dislike the person. A persistent minority is influential, even if not popular, because it soon becomes to focus of debate. Being the centre of conversation allows one to contribute a disproportionate number of arguments. In group polarization, the position supported by the most arguments usually wins. Any behaviour by a minority that conveys confidence. Ex taking head seat at table raises self doubts among majority.
