Which of the following is true about informational social influence?

• A. It only happens in situations where group norms are explicitly stated.
• B. It is driven primarily by the desire to be liked or accepted by others.
• C. It occurs when people conform because they believe others have accurate information.
• D. It leads individuals to privately disagree with the group while publicly conforming.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of informational social influence: it occurs when individuals conform because they believe others have accurate information, especially in ambiguous or uncertain situations.
2. Recognize that informational social influence is different from normative social influence, which is driven by the desire to be liked or accepted by others.
3. Note that informational social influence does not require group norms to be explicitly stated; it can happen simply because people look to others as a source of correct information.
4. Understand that informational social influence often leads to private acceptance, meaning individuals genuinely change their beliefs based on the information they receive from others.
5. Evaluate each statement in the problem by comparing it to the definition and characteristics of informational social influence to identify the true statement.