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Informational Social Influence Psychology Definition

What Does Informational Social Influence Mean in Psychology?

Informational social influence occurs when individuals conform because they believe others have more accurate knowledge about a situation. This type of social influence is particularly common in ambiguous situations where people seek guidance from those they perceive as experts.

Informational Social Influence Psychology Definition (AQA & Authors)

According to Deutsch and Gerard (1955), informational social influence is a psychological process where people conform due to a desire to be correct in uncertain situations. The AQA A-Level Psychology definition aligns with this, stating that it occurs when individuals accept information from others as evidence about reality.

Informational Social Influence Examples

  1. In a New City: A tourist follows the crowd to a restaurant, assuming it must be good.

  2. During a Crisis: People evacuate a building after seeing others do so, assuming they have accurate information.

  3. Academic Decisions: A student adopts a professor’s viewpoint on a complex theory, believing the professor is more knowledgeable.

  4. Online Reviews: Consumers rely on product reviews when making purchases, assuming past buyers provide valuable insight.

What is the Difference Between Normative and Informational Social Influence?

Informational Social Influence Normative Social Influence
Driven by the need to be correct Driven by the need to fit in
Occurs in ambiguous situations Occurs in social pressure situations
Based on perceived expertise Based on desire for social approval
Leads to internalisation (long-term attitude change) Leads to compliance (temporary conformity)

Normative vs. Informational Social Influence (A-Level Psychology)

  • Normative Influence: People conform to avoid rejection or gain approval, even if they privately disagree.

  • Informational Influence: People conform because they genuinely believe the majority view is correct.

Informational Social Influence in A-Level & AP Psychology

For psychology students, understanding informational social influence is crucial when studying conformity theories. Classic studies include:

  • Sherif’s Autokinetic Effect Experiment (1935): Participants relied on others' judgments in an ambiguous situation.

  • Asch’s Line Experiment (1951): Though primarily demonstrating normative influence, Asch’s variations showed how informational influence occurs when tasks are more difficult.

Download the Social Influence PDF

For an in-depth revision guide on informational social influence, including exam questions and model answers, download the Social Influence Digital Interactive Revision Workbook – Yum Yum Mama.

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✅ Covers all major social influence topics, including conformity and obedience. ✅ Expert-written with 20+ years of psychology teaching experience. ✅ Interactive learning with live links to model answers. ✅ Designed for AQA A-Level and AP Psychology students. ✅ Instant digital download – Start revising today!

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