Which of the following is an example of informational social influence?

• A. A person wears formal clothes to a party because they want to fit in with the group.
• B. A person follows a rule to avoid punishment from authority.
• C. A person laughs at a joke they do not find funny because everyone else is laughing.
• D. A person changes their answer on a test after seeing that most classmates chose a different answer, believing the group is more likely to be correct.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of informational social influence: it occurs when a person conforms because they believe others have accurate information, especially in ambiguous situations.
2. Identify the key feature of informational social influence: the individual changes their behavior or opinion because they think the group knows better or has more accurate information.
3. Analyze each option to see if the behavior is driven by a desire to be correct or to fit in socially (normative influence) or to avoid punishment (compliance).
4. Recognize that wearing formal clothes to fit in is normative social influence, as it is about social acceptance rather than accuracy.
5. Note that changing an answer on a test after seeing classmates' choices reflects informational social influence, because the person assumes the group is more likely to be correct.