Minority Group Influence

Hollander (1958) argues to support this. He said that prior conformity enhances status which allows greater influence and nonconformity. Result of experiments carried out found that nonconformity which accompanies a task contribution often enhances the influence of an external- status equal, but can have liabilities for members with low external- status. This means for the minority group that because you still have the same status (social workers) then you will need to build up credibility for greater influence.

The type of power expressed is also a key thing to use when presenting ideas when in the group. Ideally, expert power would increase the amount of influence spread over the group. This type of power requires insider knowledge of the topic/ ideas being presented. A way to do this would be to use correct term when addressing the members of the social workers so they feel that you hold more of a professional standard and will therefore have more respect towards the minority group.

French and Raven (1959) defined power as the ability to influence, particularly in the context of a change in behavior. They identified five different bases of social power able to influence behavior. It must be understood that the importance of roles and norms that play a part in establishing this base of power.

A major pointer to increase influence is maintaining your behavioural style. Being consistent in your behaviour is vital but you must remember to be firm in your ideas whilst still managing to be flexible rather than stubborn. This is so that the majority groups will see the minority as more trustworthy and confident in itself.

By building up idiosyncrasy credit, using expert power and being consistent in behaviour, the minority group of psychologists will be able to influence majority group behaviour. The result will likely be a conversion of the majority group to conform to the ideas that the minority group propose.