Nemeth (1986)

AIM: Nemeth (1986) conducted a study to investigate the idea of flexibility as a key characteristic of successful minorities who exert pressure. She believed that consistency was not the most important factor in minority influence and suggested that it can often be misinterpreted as a negative trait.

METHOD: Participants were placed in groups of four and were asked to agree on the amount of compensation they would give to a victim of a ski-lift accident. One of the participants in each group was a confederate, and there were two conditions:

1. In the first condition, the confederate argued for a low rate of compensation and refused to change their position, demonstrating inflexibility.

2. In the second condition, the confederate argued for a low rate of compensation but compromised by offering a slightly higher rate of compensation, demonstrating flexibility.

RESULTS: Nemeth's study found that in the inflexible condition, the minority had a minimal or no impact on the majority's decision. However, in the flexible condition, where the minority was willing to compromise, the majority was more likely to change their viewpoint and come to a consensus.

CONCLUSION: Nemeth's study emphasizes the significance of flexibility as a key characteristic of successful minorities, challenging the notion of consistency as the most crucial factor. Instead, it suggests that finding a balance between flexibility and consistency is the most effective approach for a minority to exert influence.