A Study on Minority Influence in Certain Ethnic Groups in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigated the phenomenon of minority influence in such ethnic group in Bangladesh as Santals, High Caste Hindus and Schedule Caste Hindus. For this purpose, an operational definition for minority influence was attempted in its different aspects. Thus minority influence was defined as social power exerted by the members of minority on the majority group in their intergroup relations. It is thought that influence process is a two-way traffic. In this influence, members are capable to influence each other. In this reciprocal approach of influences the minority group members have the advantage to draw sympathy resulting in favorable atmosphere. Thus the minority group members as a group may be regarded as polarizer of attitudes. However, Moscovici (1994) distinguished between majority and minority influence. He introduced a conversion theory and stated that majority influence involves compliance but the minority influence involves conversion. Thus majority influence is regarded as compliance behaviour and minority influence is regarded as deviant behaviour. Several variables of minority influence have been identified. There are -(1) Investment, (2) Autonomy, (3) Rigidity, (4)Fairness, (5) Consistency, (6) Social pressure in terms of punishment and rewards, (7) Private acceptance, (8) Liking, (9) Private and public life and ( 10)Generalized double talking and double thinking. Several theories provided different viewpoints of minority influence process. These are conversion theory, social impact theory, social impact model, and social identify theory. These theories reflected on different aspects of minority influences. A review of literature an minority influence process provided empirical findings highlighting such variables as race, culture, gender, regional effects and education in minority influence process. In the perspectives of theoretical orientation, empirical findings and personal observations following hypotheses were formulated. H1: In majority-minority inter-group relations, females from a minority group would exert significantly more minority influence as compared to males. H2: In majority-minority inter-group relations, minority members belonging to high concentration region would exert significantly more minority influence as compared to minority members belonging to low concentration region. H3 : Members of the minority group with higher education would exert significantly more minority influence as compared to the members of the minority group with low education. H4: In majority-minority influence process, different minority groups would express different amount of influence depending on their relative strengths in their social structures. The sample of the study constituted of members belonging to three minority groups. These groups are Santals, High Caste Hindus and Schedule Caste Hindus. Equal numbers of respondents were collected from each group. Thus a total of 360 respondents constituted the sample taking 120 respondents from each group. However, each group was again equally divided on the basis of gender (Male/Female), region (High Concentration/Low Concentration) and education (Above S.S.C/Below S.S.C). For the collection of data, minority influence Test was developed in the context of Bangladesh. It covers ten dimensions. There are - ( 1) Investment, (2) Autonomy, (3) Rigidity, ( 4) Fairness, (5) Consistency, (6) Social pressure in terms of punishment and rewards, •:(7) Private acceptance, (8) Liking, (9) Private and public life and (10) Generalized double talking and double thinking. The Minority Influence Test contained 21 items. It ranged from zero to ten. Zero indicated no minority influence and 10 indicated highest minority influence. The Minority Influence Score was obtained by using the formula: MIS = HPS-LPS/2 +LPS…………………………………………