Question

Provide a short explanation of both descriptive and injunctive norms IN YOUR OWN WORDS and provide a new example of each to show that you understand these terms.

Write this assignment as if you were explaining these concepts to a friend who has no idea what norms are or how they could be used to influence behavior.

Answer 1

A norm is a society or group's guideline about what is normal.

Injuctive Norms are our own understanding of what is right or wrong or what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a group or society. We can say it is based on ur general moral understanding.

If we feel that lying is wrong , we are following an injuctive norm - that it is wrong to lie and this is what the group will find acceptable to follow.Following this norm, we will make us refrain from lying or atleast feel hesitant when doing so.

Descriptive norms are our understanding of what actually happens around us. For example if we think that it is very common for our classmates to lie about small things, then it is perceived as normal behaviour and becomes a descriptive norm. Following this norm, one does not feel that they are doing anything wrong, if they lie in school or among friends as everyone around them does the same .Thus descriptive norms are more situation based.

Sometimes the injuctive norm or "what should be' is in conflict with the descriptive norm or 'what happens around you'. In the above example , even though lying is perceived is wrong, it is commonly practiced to a certain extent and is seen as normal.