Normative Social Influence
Normative social influence occurs when individuals conform to a group to be accepted or liked. This type of social influence is driven by the need for social approval rather than the belief that the group is correct.
What is Normative Social Influence?
Normative social influence is the tendency to conform in order to fit in with a group. It involves adjusting behaviours, attitudes, or opinions to avoid rejection or gain social acceptance.
Normative Social Influence in Psychology
In psychology, normative social influence is considered a form of conformity where individuals comply with group norms even if they privately disagree.
Best Example of Normative Influence
An example of normative social influence is peer pressure. A teenager may start dressing a certain way or listening to specific music to be accepted by their peers, even if they don’t personally prefer it.
Normative vs. Informational Social Influence
| Normative Social Influence | Informational Social Influence |
|---|---|
| Conforming to be accepted | Conforming to be correct |
| Driven by social pressure | Driven by desire for accurate knowledge |
| Often leads to compliance | Often leads to internalisation |
| Example: Dressing like friends to fit in | Example: Following expert advice on health |
Normative Social Influence Example
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Social Media Trends: People follow viral trends to gain social approval.
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Group Laughter: Laughing at a joke even if it’s not funny to fit in.
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Workplace Behaviour: Adapting to company culture to be accepted by colleagues.
Normative Social Influence Theory
Normative social influence is explained by Social Identity Theory, which suggests that people conform to group norms to maintain a positive social identity.
Download the Social Influence PDF
For a detailed revision guide covering normative and informational social influence, download the Social Influence Digital Interactive Revision Workbook – Yum Yum Mama.
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