Understanding Normative and Informational Social Influence:
Normative and Informational Social Influence are two key concepts in social psychology that explain why people conform to the behavior or beliefs of others.
Normative Social Influence
- Definition: Conforming to be liked or accepted by a group.
- Driven by: The desire for social approval and fear of rejection.
- Examples:
- Laughing at a joke you don’t find funny because everyone else is laughing.
- Dressing a certain way to fit in with a peer group.
- Key Feature: Public compliance without necessarily changing internal beliefs.
Informational Social Influence
- Definition: Conforming because you believe others have accurate information.
- Driven by: The desire to be correct, especially in ambiguous or unfamiliar situations.
- Examples:
- Following a crowd during an emergency because you assume they know what to do.
- Accepting a peer’s answer in class because you think they’re more knowledgeable.
- Key Feature: Private acceptance — your beliefs actually change.
Comparison
Feature Normative Influence Informational Influence Motivation Need for approval Need to be right Type of conformity Public compliance Private acceptance Situations Social pressures Ambiguous/uncertain scenarios Lasting change in belief? Often temporary Often lasting
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 