PSYCHOLOGY OF ACTIVE MINORITIES (INTRODUCTION. IN S. MOSCOVICI)
Silverio Barriga - Serge Moscovici (1996)
Summary:
INTRODUCTION BY SILVERIO BARRIGA
In the last ten years, Professor Moscovici has emerged as a leading advocate of a Social Psychology committed and contextualized
with the social environment in which he conducts his research. One of his key strategies has been to distance himself from th e
classical models, mostly of American origin, to improve the study of psychosocial processes.
It is recognized that science is not neutral in the selection of problems or in the proposed solutions, especially in the Social Sciences,
where ideological, technical and historical factors exert a significant influence on the decisions of the researcher. This influence
does not compromise the methodological rigor necessary to identify the enduring elements in the processes studied.
Within this framework, Moscovici has highlighted the ideological aspects implicit in Social Psychology, especially in the analysis of
social influence. In contrast to the predominant functionalist model in the United States, which focuses on social conformity and
control in stable and optimal social systems, he proposes a genetic or interactionist model. In this approach, the stability of the
system is seen as a moment within a continuous process of social change, where norms are contingent and marginalization is
justified when it is innovative.
This interactionist approach highlights the study of social influence as a central theme for understanding the creative interaction
of minorities in the contemporary context. There is a growth in active minorities, who do not limit themselves to acting as
marginalized groups defined by their distance from the established norm, but also position themselves as innovators who defen d
alternative norms and social systems. The uniqueness of these active minorities lies in the anomie and heterodoxy of their
perspectives.
In response to social uniformity, there is a growing demand for autonomy and differentiation at both the individual and group
levels. The transition from a consumer society to a society of modulation favors the standardized creation of individuals adaptable
to different productive environments, while promoting uprooting and facilitating the mobilization of individuals. Paradoxical ly, in
this context, subjects seek to free themselves from being subjected, actively challenging the preservation of their person al and
group identities.
We are living in a time when the resurgence of active minorities is challenging traditional perceptions of marginalization, seeing
themselves as potential social alternatives. Therefore, the future study of Social Psychology of the conflict between majorities and
minorities must be based on this context of the emergence of minorities.
The experimental and theoretical work of Moscovici and his team has significantly strengthened the scientific study of the so cial
reality of minorities. His rigorous approach to experimental work adds merit to his purpose, managing to reconcile methodological
prestige with a genuine commitment to social reality. Moscovici has been able to face these challenges with mastery, guiding Social
Psychology towards the strategic adoption of the experimental method during crucial periods for the discipline.
The impact of Moscovici's studies is reflected in research carried out at various universities, some extending his conclusion s and
others questioning them. The organization of international symposia, such as the one in Barcelona in 1980, has been fundamental
in collecting and debating the points addressed by Moscovici and his collaborators.
Among the issues highlighted is the discussion of the consistency of minority behavior as a determining factor of their influ ence,
in contrast to dependence as an exclusive explanation. The need to distinguish between power and influence has also been argu ed,
underlining how these dynamics affect the relations between majorities and minorities in different social contexts.
Moscovici defended the importance of innovation and pointed out that both conformity and innovation are different phenomena
with different effects, fundamental to understanding the processes of real social change outside the laboratory. His call to integrate
Social Psychology with social reality reflects a commitment to the research of minority groups, especially those driving soci al
transformations.
In short, Moscovici's work represents a significant advance for Social Psychology, standing out for its rigorous experimental
approach and its impact on the understanding of social dynamics between majorities and minorities.
1
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Silverio Barriga - Serge Moscovici (1996)
Summary:
INTRODUCTION BY SILVERIO BARRIGA
In the last ten years, Professor Moscovici has emerged as a leading advocate of a Social Psychology committed and contextualized
with the social environment in which he conducts his research. One of his key strategies has been to distance himself from th e
classical models, mostly of American origin, to improve the study of psychosocial processes.
It is recognized that science is not neutral in the selection of problems or in the proposed solutions, especially in the Social Sciences,
where ideological, technical and historical factors exert a significant influence on the decisions of the researcher. This influence
does not compromise the methodological rigor necessary to identify the enduring elements in the processes studied.
Within this framework, Moscovici has highlighted the ideological aspects implicit in Social Psychology, especially in the analysis of
social influence. In contrast to the predominant functionalist model in the United States, which focuses on social conformity and
control in stable and optimal social systems, he proposes a genetic or interactionist model. In this approach, the stability of the
system is seen as a moment within a continuous process of social change, where norms are contingent and marginalization is
justified when it is innovative.
This interactionist approach highlights the study of social influence as a central theme for understanding the creative interaction
of minorities in the contemporary context. There is a growth in active minorities, who do not limit themselves to acting as
marginalized groups defined by their distance from the established norm, but also position themselves as innovators who defen d
alternative norms and social systems. The uniqueness of these active minorities lies in the anomie and heterodoxy of their
perspectives.
In response to social uniformity, there is a growing demand for autonomy and differentiation at both the individual and group
levels. The transition from a consumer society to a society of modulation favors the standardized creation of individuals adaptable
to different productive environments, while promoting uprooting and facilitating the mobilization of individuals. Paradoxical ly, in
this context, subjects seek to free themselves from being subjected, actively challenging the preservation of their person al and
group identities.
We are living in a time when the resurgence of active minorities is challenging traditional perceptions of marginalization, seeing
themselves as potential social alternatives. Therefore, the future study of Social Psychology of the conflict between majorities and
minorities must be based on this context of the emergence of minorities.
The experimental and theoretical work of Moscovici and his team has significantly strengthened the scientific study of the so cial
reality of minorities. His rigorous approach to experimental work adds merit to his purpose, managing to reconcile methodological
prestige with a genuine commitment to social reality. Moscovici has been able to face these challenges with mastery, guiding Social
Psychology towards the strategic adoption of the experimental method during crucial periods for the discipline.
The impact of Moscovici's studies is reflected in research carried out at various universities, some extending his conclusion s and
others questioning them. The organization of international symposia, such as the one in Barcelona in 1980, has been fundamental
in collecting and debating the points addressed by Moscovici and his collaborators.
Among the issues highlighted is the discussion of the consistency of minority behavior as a determining factor of their influ ence,
in contrast to dependence as an exclusive explanation. The need to distinguish between power and influence has also been argu ed,
underlining how these dynamics affect the relations between majorities and minorities in different social contexts.
Moscovici defended the importance of innovation and pointed out that both conformity and innovation are different phenomena
with different effects, fundamental to understanding the processes of real social change outside the laboratory. His call to integrate
Social Psychology with social reality reflects a commitment to the research of minority groups, especially those driving soci al
transformations.
In short, Moscovici's work represents a significant advance for Social Psychology, standing out for its rigorous experimental
approach and its impact on the understanding of social dynamics between majorities and minorities.
1
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