Social Norms: Do We Love Norms Too Much

• In Event: 209 - Theory Section Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 07. Cultural Sociology 1

Abstract

Social norms are often cited as the cause of many social phenomena, especially as an explanation for prosocial family and relationship behaviors. And yet, maybe we love the idea of social norms too much to subject them to rigorous test. Compared to the detail in social norms theoretical orientations, there is very little detail in tests of normative theories. In order to provide guidance to researchers who invoke social norms as explanations, we catalog normative orientations that have been proposed to account for consistent patterns of action. We call on researchers to conduct tests of normative theories that test the processes these theories assert.

Authors

• David C. Bell, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

• Mary L. Cox, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis