Social Norms

Question 1

2 Types of norms

Answer 1

descriptive and injunctive

both emerge out of interaction with others

Question 2

Functions of norms and norm adherence

Answer 2

coordinate behaviour & distribution of outcomes
help to reduce uncertainty about how to behave appropriately
relating to others/ belonging
manage self-concept
function to evaluate: norm become salient when it has been violated

Question 3

Are people aware of how norms impact on their behaviour

Answer 3

not aware,
people believe descriptive norm (what others are doing) had least influence on their behaviour, but actually it had the greatest influence.
(Nolan et al., 2008)

Question 4

what is the evidence of focus theory of normative conduct (The role of norm salience)?

Answer 4

(e. g., Ciladini et al., 1990)
3. Least littering produced by Anti-littering descriptive norm + High norm salient
a) i.e. Clean environment + seeing the confederate littered
b) Because their attention was drawn to evidence of an strong anti-littering descriptive norm
i. i.e. (except for the confederate) people typically do not litter in that setting

Question 5

Wider effects of norm violations

what happens when descriptive & injunctive norm are in conflict

Answer 5

(Kaizer et al., 2008) cross-norm inhibition effect
norm can facilitate public disorder more generally
people tend to follow the general category of the contextual norm
one form of ‘disorder’ (e.g. graffiti) actually encouraged a different form of ‘disorder’ because the violation of one norm weakened conformity to the other norm

Question 6

what is descriptive norm

Answer 6

inform us about how others will act in similar situation

Question 7

what is injuctive norm

Answer 7

specify what behaviour should be peformed

Question 8

what is focus theory of normative conduct

Answer 8

norm affect behaviour only if they are salient

norm salience: depends on situational factors, but enduring cultural and dispositional variables also affected

Question 9

what are the implications of cross-norm inhibition effect

Answer 9

need for early detection of signs of disorder

prompt intervention to prevent the spead of other forms of disorder as norms for appropriate behaviour are inhibited