Observability, social proximity, and the erosion of norm compliance

Arbeitspapier

Social norms are ubiquitous in social and economic life but the drivers of norm conformity are poorly understood. We study the specific ways in which others' norm compliance in uences own norm compliance. Our context is a repeated non-strategic Take-or-Give donation experiment in which we show that giving is considered socially appropriate while taking is inappropriate. We find that observation of norm violations by anonymous others strongly erodes own norm compliance. Erosion is halted when people have even minimal social proximity to those they observe; in this case, individuals also pay attention to norm followers. Our results highlight the importance of social context for the dynamics of social norm compliance.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CeDEx Discussion Paper Series ; No. 2019-08

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Group Behavior ; Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
• Subject: Norm Erosion ; Norm Compliance ; Social Norms ; Social Identity

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bicchieri, Cristina ; Dimant, Eugen ; Gächter, Simon ; Nosenzo, Daniele
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The University of Nottingham, Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics (CeDEx)
• (where): Nottingham
• (when): 2019

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/228355
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET