Social Norms

When does goal discrepancy induce compensational effort? An application of self-completion theory to social issues

by Kai Sassenberg

Matschke, C., Fehr, J., & Sassenberg, K. (in press). When does goal discrepancy induce compensational effort? An application of self-completion theory to social issues. Social and Personality Psychology Compass.

The authors review research that applies self-completion theory to goals targeting other people (as in the case of... more The authors review research that applies self-completion theory to goals targeting other people (as in the case of stereotyping and prejudice), goals that aim at the achievement of a certain social identity and goals based on the social identity. It is demonstrated that goal discrepancies lead to compensation for social as well as for non-social goals. Based on self-completion theory it is proposed that the identity-relevance of the respective goal as well as the goal relevance of the subsequent task are of major importance considering the individuals’ compensation. The authors argue that the consideration of these factors advance our understanding of social phenomena.

The impact of identification on adherence to group norms in team sports: Who Is going the extra mile?

by Kai Sassenberg

Täuber, S., & Sassenberg, K. (in press). The impact of identification on adherence to group norms in team sports: Who Is going the extra mile?. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. doi: 10.1037/a0028377

The present research investigates the applicability of the Normative Conflict Model of Dissent (NCMD; Packer, 2008) in... more The present research investigates the applicability of the Normative Conflict Model of Dissent (NCMD; Packer, 2008) in the context of team sports. The core assumption of the NCDM is that strongly identified group members adhere to group norms less (i.e., deviate more) when these norms are potentially harmful for the team. We accompanied a football team over the course of a season (22 time points) and assessed players’ (n =11) identification with their team, adherence as the overlap between individual and team goals, and disengagement as willingness to leave the team. Results showed that weakly identified players adhered to, but strongly identified players deviated from, unambitious—thus potentially harmful—team goals. Moreover, deviance elicited disengagement among weakly but not among strongly identified players. Our findings demonstrate the relevance of the NCMD in sports teams. Implications are discussed with respect to the beneficial aspects of deviance for teams.

Appearances can be deceiving: Lessons learned re-implementing Axelrod's' evolutionary approach to norms'

by Jose Manuel Galan

Axelrod's Metanorm Games on Networks

by Jose Manuel Galan

Mesoscopic Effects in an Agent-Based Bargaining Model in Regular Lattices

by Jose Manuel Galan

Evolution of Equity Norms in Small-World Networks

by Jose Manuel Galan

The topology of interactions has been proved very influential in the results of models based on learning and... more The topology of interactions has been proved very influential in the results of models based on learning and evolutionary game theory. This paper is aimed at investigating the effect of structures ranging from regular ring lattices to random networks, including small-world networks, in a model focused on property distribution norms. The model considers a fixed and finite population of agents who play the Nash bargaining game repeatedly. Our results show that regular networks promote the emergence of the equity norm, while less-structured networks make possible the appearance of fractious regimes. Additionally, our analysis reveals that the speed of adoption can also be affected by the network structure.

The role of social expectations in forming moral judgments

by Sonya Sachdeva

With Rumen Iliev

It is one of the hallmarks of moral values that they do not rely on the customs of a particular society or the... more It is one of the hallmarks of moral values that they do not rely on the customs of a particular society or the conveniences of particular factions (Turiel, Killen, & Helwig, 1987). Contrast this to conventional or other social norms which are fluid and adaptable to various situations. Yet, it appears that moral rules are not always treated as such1. People have different expectations of moral behavior depending on whom that behavior is directed toward. For example, avoiding full disclosure is immoral for a friend but not for a stranger (Baron & Haidt, 1996). And, people are sensitive to power relations when making culpability judgments (Hamilton and Saunders, 1981). The meaning of behavior changes depending on who it is directed toward.  Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, or from the high end of the social totem pole or the low end, affects how you view the world and also your definitions of what is right and wrong (Haidt, Koller, & Dias, 1993; Harkness, Edwards, Super, 1981).

Gender Rules: Same and Cross-Gender Friendship Norms

by H. Colleen Sinclair

Pravidlá: spoločnosť¨, jazyk a racionalita (Rules: society, language and rationality)

by Ladislav Koren

IN: Teorie vědy / Theory of Science, Vol 33, No 4 (2011), pp. 591-615.

Pravidlá: spoločnosť, jazyk a racionalita

Abstrakt:

Táto kritická štúdia sa zameriava na... more Pravidlá: spoločnosť, jazyk a racionalita

Abstrakt:

Táto kritická štúdia sa zameriava na problematiku spolupráce a pravidiel, diskutovanú Jaroslavom Peregrinom v knihe Človek a pravidla (Praha: Dokořán 2011). Okrem extenzívneho exkurzu do osnovy Peregrinových hlavných myšlienok a argumentov budú systematicky analyzované niektoré kľúčové otázky patriace do tejto interdisciplinárnej teoretickej oblasti, pričom sa kriticky posúdia niektoré prvky Peregrinovho špecifického prístupu. Konkrétne, budem argumentovať, že Peregrinom preferovaná koncepcia pravidla - ako propozičného poznania, že niečo by malo (nemalo) nejako byť - nemôže dobre slúžiť jeho zámerom, ak chce udržať jeho evolučný prístup k pravidlám.

Rules: Society, Language, Rationality

Abstract:

This critical study focuses on the topic of cooperation and rules discussed in the book by Jaroslav Peregrin: Človek a pravidla [Man and Rules] (Praha: Dokořán 2011). Except of an extensive excurse into the structure of Peregrin's main ideas and arguments, it aims to provide a systematic analysis of some central issues in this interdisciplinary theoretical field, while discussing some elements of Peregrin's specific approach. In particular, it will be argued that Peregrin's preferred conception of rule - as propositional knowledge to the effect that something ought to be (or ought not to be) a certain way - cannot serve well his purposes, if Peregrin is to keep his evolutionary perspective on rules.

Lost in translation – A methodological critique of constructivist norm research

by Matthias Hofferberth

Paper presented at the ISA Annual Convention 2012, 1-4 April, in San Diego, co-Authored with Christian Weber. Please do not quote without the permission of the authors – Comments are most welcome!

Under the headline of “explaining change”, scholars in the 1990s rediscovered the importance of “non-material factors”... more Under the headline of “explaining change”, scholars in the 1990s rediscovered the importance of “non-material factors” in International Relations. Questions about the creation, the evolution, and the impact of norms obtained a prominent place in constructivist theorizing. Norm research seemed to offer the most promising alternative to the rationalist mainstream. We argue, however, that constructivist norm research entailed major conceptual and methodological problems which have not yet been spelled out comprehensively. Although norms were introduced as the product of social interaction, empirical studies defined them as expressions of a “given identity” with specifiable “regulative effects”. The insight that norms are potentially contested and thus constantly renegotiated through creative action has been lost in translation. Most authors adopted a structuralist framework explaining how norms caused a certain “behavior”, putting norm research at odds with the epistemological assumptions of previous constructivist works. By reconstructing the conceptual and methodological decisions of constructivist norm research, we show how the metatheoretical challenge to rationalism has been narrowed down to a neo-positivist research agenda. We propose to re-conceptualize the connection between norms and action from a relationalist perspective and outline an interpretive methodology that allows to deliver on the ambitious promise to explain processes of normative change in international politics.

Abstract_Thesis_Grard_Fr_En

by Julien Grard

PhD in social anthropology, Summa Cum Laude. Thesis defended on the 25t of october, 2011. Paris, France, EHESS.

ANU-Digital Collections: Conventions and Cooperative Virtues: Some Observations on Evolutionary Game-Theoretic Explanations of Social

by Bruno Verbeek

Instrumental Rationality and Moral Philosophy: an essay on the virtues of cooperation

by Bruno Verbeek

The authority of norms

by Bruno Verbeek

Wendt meets East: ASEAN cultures of conflict and cooperation

by Stefan Rother

Rother, Stefan. 2012. "Wendt meets East: ASEAN cultures of conflict and cooperation." Cooperation and Conflict 47 (1):49–67.

The major theories of International Relations (IRT) differ significantly as far as their concepts
of conflict... more The major theories of International Relations (IRT) differ significantly as far as their concepts
of conflict and cooperation are concerned. However, they share one common denominator:
They are deeply rooted in Western experiences and intellectual history. Recently, a growing
literature on the possibilities and benefits of a non-Western IRT has emerged. This article
proposes a ‘via media’: a theoretical approach that can be applied to Western and non-Western
IR alike, taking into consideration the specific historical, ideational and cultural contexts. Based
on social constructivism as developed by Alexander Wendt, it is argued that the existence of
a collective identity among states in a given region can manifest itself in distinctive logics or
cultures of anarchy. These are based on norms of conflict or cooperation that can be established
through interaction, can be proposed by outside agents and localized, or can be affected by the
re-negotiation of state identity caused by domestic events. In addition, there are cultural path
dependencies: norms rooted in the cultural memory or consciousness of a region which tend
to be ignored by interpretations that merely focus on current events or established Western
models of cooperation. Area studies can contribute to provide this context.

Representações e conhecimento social: um esforço integrativo por meio de uma perspectiva estrutural normativa (versão em português de artigo originalmente publicado em inglês)

by João Wachelke

Versão em Português de: Wachelke, J. (2012). Representations and social knowledge: an integrative effort through a normative structural perspective. New Ideas in Psychology, 30, 259-269.

Language: Portuguese

A abordagem estrutural das representações sociais é conhecida pelo desenvolvimento da teoria do núcleo central e sua... more A abordagem estrutural das representações sociais é conhecida pelo desenvolvimento da teoria do núcleo central e sua similaridade com perspectivas sociopsicológicas orientadas para a cognição, o que foi alvo de críticas. A abordagem tem dificuldade em lidar com a dimensão social do conhecimento e adota uma noção estática de estrutura. Reconhecendo essas limitações, apresentamos um modelo estrutural conceitual revisado do conhecimento social e representações sociais baseado na consideração de processos normativos e sócio identitários, compatível com contribuições de autores externos à abordagem estrutural clássica, tais como Wagner (holomorfia) e Lahlou (modelo de propagação). Após redefinir os conceitos de cognema e estrutura, abordamos os processos de pensamento e as diferenças entre representações pessoais e sociais, concebendo as últimas como códigos convencionais ligados a grupos. Limitações da perspectiva são discutidas e direções de pesquisa indicadas, baseadas num entendimento de estrutura que é mais amplo que o adotado pela abordagem clássica.

Cultural constraints on the emergence of women as leaders

by Geoffrey Leonardelli

Toh, S.M., & Leonardelli, G.J. (2012). Cultural constraints on the emergence of women as leaders. Journal of World Business.

Women, who have historically been less represented than men in leadership positions, emerge as leaders in some... more Women, who have historically been less represented than men in leadership positions, emerge as leaders in some societies more than others. Unlike previous cultural explanations for this effect (rooted in differences in values, practices, or gender roles), we argue that a culture’s tightness – its strength of norms and social sanctions – can provoke a resistance to change practices that historically placed men in leadership positions. Tighter cultures will yield fewer women represented among top leadership positions. Moreover, cultural tightness moderates the degree to which egalitarian practices – where individuals from both genders are treated equally – lead women to emerge as leaders. Specifically, differences in egalitarian practices are more likely to predict the emergence of women as leaders among tight rather than loose cultures because such practices are more strongly implemented in tight than weak cultures. Analysis of publicly available data reveals some preliminary support for predictions. This research concludes that loose cultures will be more receptive to changing existing cultural practices, but that tight cultures are more successful in implementing and sustaining such changes.

Representations and social knowledge: an integrative effort through a normative structural perspective

by João Wachelke

Wachelke, J. (2012). Representations and social knowledge: an integrative effort through a normative structural perspective. New Ideas in Psychology, 30, 259-269.

The structural approach on social representations is known for the development of central core theory and its... more The structural approach on social representations is known for the development of central core theory and its similarity with cognition-oriented sociopsychological perspectives, which has been a target of criticism. The approach has difficulty in dealing with the social dimension of knowledge and adopts a static notion of structure. Acknowledging those shortcomings, we present a revised structural conceptual model of social knowledge and social representations based on the consideration of normative and social identity processes, compatible with contributions of authors external to the classical structural approach, such as Wagner (holomorphy) and Lahlou (propagation model). After redefining the concepts of cognem and structure, we tackle thinking processes and the differences between personal and social representations, conceiving the latter as conventional codes linked to groups. Limitations of the perspective are discussed and research directions are indicated based on an understanding of structure that is broader than the one adopted by the classical approach.

What baboons, babies and Tetris players tell us about interaction: a biosocial view of norm-based social learning

by Stephen J. Cowley

This is a draft of a paper that appeared as:
Cowley, S.J. & MacDorman, K.F. (2006). What baboons, babies and Tetris players tell us about interaction: a biosocial view of norm-based social learning. Connection Science, 18/3, 363-378.

Could androids use movements to build relationships? For people relationships are created with the help of... more Could androids use movements to build relationships? For people relationships are created with the help of behavior-shaping norms, which infants begin to discover and manipulate by the third month. To build relationships, machines can also learn to exploit human reactions in real-time decision making. In the video game Tetris, for example, affect co-opts computer generated patterns to simplify cognitive tasks: norms mediate what Kirsh and Maglio (1994) term epistemic actions, which allow implicit knowledge to shape key pressing in ways that, given past games, are likely to be informative and valuable. Experts act to change their cognitive states by allowing the game’s higher-level states to constrain their lower-level actions. Since this process enables the development of expertise, we might expect it to be widespread. But it seems marginal in hamadryas baboons, although they use affect and complex norms. In humans, by contrast, infants use adults as cognitive resources in developing their epistemic abilities. This has engineering implications for android designers. Because androids can elicit epistemic actions, engineers need to develop an affect-sensitive interface. If successful at this, even rudimentary coaction may prompt people to report experiencing androids as both making choices and violating expectations.

Trust and normative democratic peace theory: nexus between citizens and foreign policies?

by Andris Zimelis

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 32 Iss: 1/2, pp.17 - 28

Despite the burgeoning literature dealing with the democratic peace theory, there seems to be surprisingly little... more Despite the burgeoning literature dealing with the democratic peace theory, there seems to be surprisingly little research done in actually analyzing how and why democracies cause peace. There is even less research done in empirically analyzing the “how” part of the normative aspects of the democratic peace theory. The purpose of this paper is to explain the theoretical assumptions and how interpersonal trust is linked to a country's preferences to go to war. In addition, a direct comparison is made between democratic and non-democratic states to ascertain more clearly the effect of trust on decisions to go to war. This study quantitatively examines the period from 1980 to 2001 and considers 62 democratic countries and 30 non-democratic countries in their choices to engage in conflict. The research project finds that interpersonal trust is strongly correlated with states’ decisions to go to war.