In social psychology, when other employees acknowledge that a person has specialized knowledge, this is an example of which type of social influence?

• A. Normative influence
• B. Informational influence
• C. Compliance
• D. Obedience

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of social influence, which refers to the ways in which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment.
2. Step 2: Identify the types of social influence: Normative influence (conforming to be liked or accepted), Informational influence (accepting information from others as evidence about reality), Compliance (changing behavior in response to a direct request), and Obedience (following orders from an authority figure).
3. Step 3: Analyze the scenario where employees acknowledge a person's specialized knowledge. This suggests they accept the person's expertise as valid information about reality.
4. Step 4: Recognize that this acceptance of expertise aligns with Informational influence, where people conform because they believe others have accurate knowledge.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the example given is best categorized as Informational influence, as it involves accepting information from others to guide behavior or beliefs.