Understanding the Concept of Informational Social Influence: Definition and Examples
Have you ever made a decision based on the belief that others around you know better? Have you ever followed the crowd because you thought everyone else was doing the same thing? If yes, then you have experienced what is known as informational social influence.
Informational social influence is a concept that explains how people conform to the opinions or behaviors of others who they believe have more knowledge and expertise. In simpler terms, it is the tendency to follow the crowd to gain knowledge or insights about what is happening in a given situation.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the concept of informational social influence, explore its types and motives, and provide examples of how it works.
Types of Informational Social Influence
There are two types of informational social influence – private acceptance and public compliance.
Private acceptance occurs when an individual believes that the group’s opinion or behavior is correct, accurate, and valuable. Here, the person is convinced that others have more knowledge or experience about the given situation and thus internalizes their actions or opinions as a way to understand and make sense of the situation.
On the other hand, public compliance happens when an individual outwardly conforms to the group’s behavior or opinion for the fear of social rejection or the desire to appear socially appropriate. Public compliance does not necessarily mean that the person believes in the group’s opinion or behavior, but rather complies with it to avoid adverse consequences.
Motives behind Informational Social Influence
The motives behind informational social influence can be reduced to two main needs – the need to be right and the need to belong.
The need to be right stems from the desire to have accurate information or make the right decision. When an individual perceives others as having more knowledge or experience, they may follow their opinions or behavior to make informed decisions.
The need to belong is a social motive that explains why individuals conform to the beliefs or behaviors of others to feel accepted and included in a social group.
Examples of Informational Social Influence
The concept of informational social influence can be observed in various contexts and situations, some of which include:
1. Fashion Trends: We often imitate the fashion trends or styles of celebrities or influencers because we believe they have more knowledge and expertise in the field of fashion.
2. Health Decisions: When faced with a medical issue, we may seek advice from medical professionals or fellow patients who have encountered similar conditions to help us make informed decisions.
3. Emergency Situations: In times of emergency when quick decisions need to be made, individuals tend to take cues from others around them to act appropriately.
Conclusion
Informational social influence is a powerful force that can influence our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in various situations. Understanding this phenomenon is critical because it can help us examine why we act in certain ways and identify when we are making decisions based on the opinions or behaviors of others.
By embracing the need to be right and belong, we can use informational social influence to our advantage by seeking knowledge from the opinions and behaviors of others while remaining true to our values and beliefs.
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