Informational and Normative Influences in Conformity from a Neurocomputational Perspective

Area of Science:

• Decision-making
• Social Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Conformity behavior arises from two primary drivers: informational influences and normative influences.
• Informational influences aid in accurate responses, while normative influences promote social acceptance.
• Existing decision-making models offer a framework for understanding these influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore informational and normative influences on conformity through perceptual and value-based decision-making models.
• To apply these models to classical conformity research.
• To investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of conformity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of perceptual and value-based decision-making models.
• Application of these models to established conformity literature.
• Review of neurobiological literature concerning conformity influences.

Main Results:

• An informational account predicts a significant tendency to conform.
• Normative influences integrate within the decision-making framework and interact with social factors.
• Current neurobiological studies show limitations in distinguishing between informational and normative influences.

Conclusions:

• Informational influences can unexpectedly drive conformity.
• A unified framework can accommodate both informational and normative drivers of conformity.
• Further research is needed to segregate the neural substrates of informational versus normative conformity.