A scenario illustrating informational social influence is how a person might react to potential smoke in a movie theater. If the source is ambiguous—it could be a real fire or a special effect like a fog machine—an individual will likely observe others' reactions. If the crowd shows concern and begins to leave, the individual will probably follow, assuming the group has correctly assessed the situation as dangerous. Conversely, if others remain calm, the individual is likely to stay, interpreting the situation as non-threatening based on the group's inaction.

Example of Informational Social Influence in an Emergency

A tourist is visiting a country for the first time and enters a historic temple. They notice that everyone is taking off their shoes before stepping inside, although there are no signs instructing them to do so. The tourist, unsure of the local customs, also removes their shoes before entering. Which of the following best explains the tourist's behavior?

Informational social influence occurs when individuals conform because they believe the group is competent and possesses accurate information. This type of influence is particularly strong in ambiguous situations where the correct course of action is unclear and individuals rely on the group for guidance.

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Conformity refers to a change in behavior to match the actions or responses of others in order to “fit in," despite not necessarily agreeing with the actions of others.

Conformity

According to research by Deutsch and Gerard (1955), the motivations driving conformity are categorized into two main types. The first is normative social influence, which stems from a desire for social approval, and the second is informational social influence, which is based on the assumption that the group holds correct information.

Classification of Motivations for Conformity

Gilovich, T., Keltner, D., Chen, S., &amp; Nisbett, R. E. (2019). Social psychology. W. w. Norton &amp; Company. 

Social Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

When encountering a new or unexpected in-group
 norm, individuals will shift their political views in the direction of conformity with
 the majority

In-Group Conformity 

Informational Social Influence

The Asch effect describes the phenomenon where a group majority's opinion influences an individual's judgment.

Asch Effect

Normative social influence drives individuals to conform with group norms in order to fit in, feel good, and gain acceptance. This type of conformity is motivated by a desire for social approval and to avoid ridicule, rather than a belief that the group's actions are necessarily correct.

Normative Social Influence

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where individuals in a group modify their opinions to align with what they perceive as the group consensus. This process often prioritizes harmony and conformity over critical analysis, which can hinder opposing viewpoints and lead to faulty or extreme decisions that individuals might not make on their own.

Groupthink

Social loafing is a psychological phenomenon characterized by a reduction in individual effort and output when working on tasks where contributions are pooled within a group. This is in contrast to the level of effort an individual would typically exert when working alone.

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