Informational Social Influence
Definition
Informational social influence occurs when one turns to others for guidance about how to behave in ambiguous situations because they believe others may have more knowledge about what is going on.
Analogy
It's like being at an unfamiliar concert where everyone suddenly stands up. You're not sure why but you stand too because you assume everyone else knows something you don't.
Related terms
Social Proof: This concept suggests that people will follow the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior for any given situation.
Reference Groups: These are groups that individuals refer back to for behavioral norms or values.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory: This theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and beliefs in harmony and avoid disharmony (or dissonance).
"Informational Social Influence" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.