Social norms govern what behaviors come to mind—And what do not

Bibliographic Data

ID6197697
AuthorsDavid A Kalkstein (0000-0001-9731-9066, Stanford University), Cayce J Hook (0000-0002-3418-3701, Stanford University), Bridgette M Hard (0000-0002-3146-4348, Duke University), Gary M Walton (0000-0002-6194-0472, Stanford University)
Year2023
Volume124
Issue6
Pages1203-1229
Publication date2023-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/pspi0000412
PMID36395038
OpenAlexW4309365913
LanguageEN
Citations received13

5,488). In Study 1, people reported that behaviors that were counternormative in a situation, even behaviors that could satisfy a motivational drive, were far less likely to come to mind and less desirable than behaviors that were norm-consistent. Going beyond self-report measures, Studies 2a-2c found that people even misrepresented norm-violating behaviors as "impossible," suggesting they are not considered. Using a change-blindness paradigm, Study 3 found that people were less likely to track changes in goal-relevant objects that would be counternormative (vs. normative) to engage with. Studies 4 and 5 explored implications for problems of temptation and self-control. Study 4 found that members of a clinical population striving to eat healthier reported that the very same unhealthy but tasty food items would be less tempting and would trigger less self-control conflict if they encountered the food in a context where its consumption would be counternormative (vs. normative). Study 5, a field study, shows that introducing a norm prohibiting laptop use in class reduced students' temptation to multitask (as well as actual multitasking) over the term, whereas encouraging individual self-control did not. Discussion addresses how norms can be harnessed to lighten the burdens of temptations and help people achieve their goals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Norm (philosophy) · Normative · Normative social influence · Population · Self-control · Temptation · Behavioral Health and Interventions · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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