An Explication of Social Norms

Lapinski, Maria Knight

doi:10.1093/ct/15.2.127

Cited by 273 publications

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“…Of course, the extent of norm internalization is also affected by cultural and social factors and may change during the individual's life span (6,7,20). Although here we have neglected these effects for simplicity, our modeling framework is flexible enough and can be extended for the case when η depends both on genetic factors and, say, on the frequency of particular behaviors in the population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Collective action and the evolution of social norm internalization

Gavrilets

Richerson

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

221

159

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Human behavior is strongly affected by culturally transmitted norms and values. Certain norms are internalized (i.e., acting according to a norm becomes an end in itself rather than merely a tool in achieving certain goals or avoiding social sanctions). Humans' capacity to internalize norms likely evolved in our ancestors to simplify solving certain challenges-including social ones. Here we study theoretically the evolutionary origins of the capacity to internalize norms. In our models, individuals can choose to participate in collective actions as well as punish free riders. In making their decisions, individuals attempt to maximize a utility function in which normative values are initially irrelevant but play an increasingly important role if the ability to internalize norms emerges. Using agent-based simulations, we show that norm internalization evolves under a wide range of conditions so that cooperation becomes "instinctive." Norm internalization evolves much more easily and has much larger effects on behavior if groups promote peer punishment of free riders. Promoting only participation in collective actions is not effective. Typically, intermediate levels of norm internalization are most frequent but there are also cases with relatively small frequencies of "oversocialized" individuals willing to make extreme sacrifices for their groups no matter material costs, as well as "undersocialized" individuals completely immune to social norms. Evolving the ability to internalize norms was likely a crucial step on the path to large-scale human cooperation.H uman social behavior is controlled by many interacting factors including material cost-benefit considerations, genetically informed social instincts, personality, and culturally transmitted norms, values, and institutions (1-5). A social norm is a behavior that one is expected to follow and expects others to follow in a given social situation (6, 7). Humans learn norms from parents, through educational and religious practices, and from friends and acquaintances, books, and media. The adherence to norms is socially reinforced by the approval of, and rewards to, individuals who follow them and punishment of norm violators. Certain norms are internalized, that is, acting according to a norm becomes an end in itself rather than merely a tool in achieving certain goals or avoiding social sanctions (1, 2, 8-11). For individuals who have strongly internalized a norm, violating it is psychologically painful even if the direct material benefits for the violation are positive. Many individuals and groups are willing to pay extremely high costs to enact, defend, or promulgate norms that they consider important (12). At the same time, virtually all norms can be violated by individuals under some conditions (e.g., if the costs of compliance are too high). Norms thus can be viewed as one of the arguments in the utility function that each individual maximizes (9).Internalizing a norm has two significant effects upon human behavior: People who have internalized a norm follow...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A social norm is a behavior that one is expected to follow and expects others to follow in a given social situation (6,7). Humans learn norms from parents, through educational and religious practices, and from friends and acquaintances, books, and media.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Collective action and the evolution of social norm internalization

Gavrilets

Richerson

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

221

159

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“…11 Perceived norms have been classified as descriptive or injunctive norms. 12 Descriptive norms indicate the perceived prevalence of a behavior in a group whereas injunctive norms refer to perceived approval of a behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences in Social Network Influence among Injection Drug Users: Perceived Norms and Needle Sharing

Davey‐Rothwell

Latkin

2007

J Urban Health

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Whereas substantial research has linked perceived norms and HIV sexual risk behavior, less attention has been given to the relationship between perceived norms and injection drug practices. This study investigated the relationship between needle sharing and perceived norms in a sample of injection drug users. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 684 injectors from the STEP Into Action (STEP) project in Baltimore, Maryland. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between perceived norms (descriptive and injunctive norms) and needle sharing. Results were stratified by gender. Descriptive norms were significantly related to needle sharing among males (AOR=1.58, 95%CI=1.20-2.40) and females (AOR=1.78; 95%CI=1.24-2.55). Whereas injunctive norms were significantly associated with needle sharing among men (AOR=1.30 95%CI=1.05-1.61), this association was not significant among women (AOR=0.99; 95%CI=0.74-1.31). These findings suggest the utility of peer education interventions that promote norms regarding risk reduction among injection drug users. The data also provide support for gender-specific HIV prevention interventions.

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“…For example, injunctive norms describe other peoples' shared morals or beliefs regarding hand sanitation behavior, compared to descriptive norms, which represent the frequency of hand sanitation behavior that is primarily formed from observations of others' hand sanitation behavior. Some researchers equate subjective norms from the TPB with injunctive norms from the Social Norm Approach (Lapinski & Rimal, 2005). Ajzen (2005) noted that the measure of subjective norms should include items that are designed to capture descriptive norms.…”

Section: Normative Belief and Subjective Normmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting and explaining behavioral intention and hand sanitizer use among US Army soldiers

Lin

Roberts

2017

American Journal of Infection Control

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Many pathogenic microorganisms are spread by contaminated hands and may lead to foodborne illness. The use of hand sanitizers can significantly reduce bacterial contamination and is an efficient and inexpensive method to prevent infections and sickness. Previous researchers have found that the routine use of hand sanitizers allowed the U.S. Army to significantly reduce illness. However, few studies have been conducted within a U.S. Army dining facility, which is considered to be one of the primary sources of foodborne illness within the U.S. Army. Therefore, using the Theory of Planned Behavior, the purpose of this study was to identify the behavioral intention, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceptions of control of using hand sanitizer among military personnel.The study targeted soldiers using a written survey during their lunch hour on the U.S.Army base at Fort Riley, KS. A total of 201 surveys were collected. All data were screened and entered into IBM SPSS for analysis.Results indicated that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control explained 64% of the variance in behavioral intention. Attitude and subjective norms were found to be significant predictors of behavioral intention, with attitude being the strongest predictor.In general, behavioral beliefs were positive among soldiers. Related to normative beliefs, soldiers did perceive negative social pressure from other soldiers not to use hand sanitizers.Analysis of control beliefs found soldiers perceived hand sanitizers were readily available, but disliked their smell and feel after application.Food production managers and Army commanders can use these results to implement hand sanitation behavioral interventions within military dining environments. Practical implications will likely translate to reduced healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism rates, and improved mission readiness.Some of the limitations include commonly perceived social psychology bias. Further, clustered samples were collected within one military installation in a relatively short amount of time.

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An Explication of Social Norms

Cited by 273 publications

References 0 publications

Collective action and the evolution of social norm internalization

Collective action and the evolution of social norm internalization

Gender Differences in Social Network Influence among Injection Drug Users: Perceived Norms and Needle Sharing

Predicting and explaining behavioral intention and hand sanitizer use among US Army soldiers

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