Informational and Normative Social Influence: Definitions and Research Support

This page introduces the concepts of informational social influence (ISI) and normative social influence (NSI) as explanations for conformity. It provides research support for ISI and discusses individual differences in NSI.

Research support for ISI comes from Lucas (2006), who found that students were more likely to conform to incorrect answers on difficult math problems. This supports the ISI theory because when faced with challenging tasks, individuals are more likely to doubt themselves and look to the group for guidance, believing the group to be correct.

Example: In Lucas's study, participants showed higher conformity rates for difficult math problems compared to easy ones, demonstrating the power of ISI in uncertain situations.

The document also addresses individual differences in NSI, particularly focusing on nAffiliators – people with a greater need for affiliation or relationships with others. These individuals are more likely to conform due to NSI to gain acceptance from others.

Highlight: Individual differences in the need for affiliation can affect the strength of NSI, suggesting that the theory may not apply uniformly to all people.

Vocabulary: nAffiliators - Individuals with a high need for affiliation or social connection.

This variation in susceptibility to NSI presents a challenge to the theory, indicating that it may not be as straightforward as initially thought. The effectiveness of NSI as an explanation for conformity may depend on individual personality traits and social needs.