Post by sjangwal on Oct 21, 2017 18:16:48 GMT
Conforming to a minority position
What are the primary suggestions that Moghaddam gives for people who are in a minority position and wish to bring others to conform to their way of thinking or acting? Can you think of an example of a minority position becoming a majority position? In your example does it seem that the shift was related to the kind of approach suggested by Moghaddam?
Moghaddam says that the key to minority groups are more likely to change the views of the majority when "taking a consistent position, but not one that is rigid or dogmatic."
He brings up the view of Moscovici who suggests that the minority influence leads to conversion (from rationale argument) rather than conformity (force), whereas the majority influence works the other way around. Moghaddam adds to this point suggesting that minority groups may use "other avenues open to them, such as appeals to feelings (rather than logic), cunning, trickery, and even terrorism"
Thus, Minority influence may not always be achieved through means that are morally superior. This is also similar to the discussion of displaced aggression where Moghaddam suggested that the person with less power has two options when dealing with a person of greater power, reason or sabotage.
An example of a minority position becoming a majority position would be accepted views of same-sex marriage. It seems that the majority of people who once believed that marriage was only a ceremony of opposite sexes have become the minority view-point in society. Methods of conversion and open dialogue using reason and compassion as well as avoiding an authoritarian way of presenting views ultimately led to the successful conversion of many people who had different viewpoints beforehand and now laws have been passed or lifted to allow same-sex marriage.
What are the primary suggestions that Moghaddam gives for people who are in a minority position and wish to bring others to conform to their way of thinking or acting? Can you think of an example of a minority position becoming a majority position? In your example does it seem that the shift was related to the kind of approach suggested by Moghaddam?
Moghaddam says that the key to minority groups are more likely to change the views of the majority when "taking a consistent position, but not one that is rigid or dogmatic."
He brings up the view of Moscovici who suggests that the minority influence leads to conversion (from rationale argument) rather than conformity (force), whereas the majority influence works the other way around. Moghaddam adds to this point suggesting that minority groups may use "other avenues open to them, such as appeals to feelings (rather than logic), cunning, trickery, and even terrorism"
Thus, Minority influence may not always be achieved through means that are morally superior. This is also similar to the discussion of displaced aggression where Moghaddam suggested that the person with less power has two options when dealing with a person of greater power, reason or sabotage.
An example of a minority position becoming a majority position would be accepted views of same-sex marriage. It seems that the majority of people who once believed that marriage was only a ceremony of opposite sexes have become the minority view-point in society. Methods of conversion and open dialogue using reason and compassion as well as avoiding an authoritarian way of presenting views ultimately led to the successful conversion of many people who had different viewpoints beforehand and now laws have been passed or lifted to allow same-sex marriage.