Interpersonal influence

Interpersonal influence is a type of social influence which results from group members encouraging, or forcing, conformity while discouraging, and possibly punishing, nonconformity.

The effects of interpersonal influence were well documented through Schachter’s 1951, experiments involving three confederates in an all-male discussion group. One confederate was the deviant, who was assigned to always disagree with the majority; the next was the slider, who disagreed initially but was told to eventually conform; and the last was the mode, whose task was to consistently agree with the majority. Schachter was interested specifically in how the group would pressure the deviant to conform. He found that communication with the deviant increased steadily over the course of the discussion, but in more cohesive groups, the deviant became rejected.