Which process is most closely associated with small, persistent groups bringing about change in society?

Which process is most closely associated with small, persistent groups bringing about change in society?

• A. Social facilitation
• B. Minority influence
• C. Groupthink
• D. Bystander effect

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how small, persistent groups can drive social change. This is minority influence. When a small group holds a consistent, committed position over time, they can persuade the larger majority to re-evaluate their views, often leading to real change that people adopt privately as well as publicly. The key is consistency and persistence, which gradually draws attention to the alternative perspective and encourages others to reconsider their beliefs. This differs from social facilitation, which is about how performance changes in the presence of others rather than about changing collective beliefs. It also differs from groupthink, where a cohesive group prioritizes harmony and agreement over accurate judgment, not long-term societal change driven by a minority. And it differs from the bystander effect, which is about people failing to intervene in emergencies due to diffusion of responsibility, not about shaping social norms over time.

The main idea is how small, persistent groups can drive social change. This is minority influence. When a small group holds a consistent, committed position over time, they can persuade the larger majority to re-evaluate their views, often leading to real change that people adopt privately as well as publicly. The key is consistency and persistence, which gradually draws attention to the alternative perspective and encourages others to reconsider their beliefs.

This differs from social facilitation, which is about how performance changes in the presence of others rather than about changing collective beliefs. It also differs from groupthink, where a cohesive group prioritizes harmony and agreement over accurate judgment, not long-term societal change driven by a minority. And it differs from the bystander effect, which is about people failing to intervene in emergencies due to diffusion of responsibility, not about shaping social norms over time.