AUTHOR=Koudenburg Namkje , Jans Lise 

TITLE=The group dynamics sparking social change: how group value in diversity predicts interactions with a deviant

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Social Psychology

VOLUME=1

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/social-psychology/articles/10.3389/frsps.2023.1240173

DOI=10.3389/frsps.2023.1240173

ISSN=2813-7876

ABSTRACT=<p>Deviants are pivotal to sparking social change but their influence is often hindered by group dynamics that serve to maintain the status quo. This paper examines the influence of a group's value in diversity in deviant's ability to spark social change, with a unique focus on the experience and anticipation of group dynamics that enable minority influence. Hypotheses were tested in three studies (<italic>N</italic><sub><italic>Total</italic></sub> = 674), which varied in their use of <italic>ad-hoc</italic> conversation groups or existing friend groups, and whether deviants were newcomers, or existing group members. We demonstrated social influence of a vegan deviant increased to the extent that participants perceived their group to value diversity. Furthermore, group value in diversity related to experienced and anticipated group dynamics that enabled minority influence: decreased conformity pressure, increased attentive listening, and, importantly, an increased search for agreement with the deviant. We discuss the importance of studying group dynamics for understanding what valuing diversity entails.</p>