In our everyday lives, it's important to know when we follow what others do just to fit in or when we look to others for help because we're unsure.

Normative Influence is all about wanting to be liked or accepted by a group.

Think about a teenager who wears certain clothes just to fit in, even if those clothes aren't their style. Here are some common examples:

• Peer Pressure: A student might drink at a party just because their friends are doing it, even if they don't really want to.
• Social Media: Many people post pictures or thoughts just to get likes and followers, changing their opinions to match what’s popular right now.

On the flip side, we have Informational Influence. This happens when people are confused and look to others for help, believing that the group knows more than they do. Here are a couple of examples:

• Group Decisions: In a business meeting, if a few people strongly support a certain idea, others might automatically agree without fully understanding why.
• Learning Environments: A student who is confused about a tough topic may ask their classmates, trusting their answers more than their own.

To sum it up, normative influence usually happens in social situations where fitting in matters. Informational influence is more common when we’re unsure and looking for clarity.

Knowing the difference between these two can help us handle our social situations better!