The Emergence of Social Norms and Conventions

Robert X D Hawkins; Noah D Goodman; Robert L Goldstone

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2018.11.003

The Emergence of Social Norms and Conventions

Trends Cogn Sci. 2019 Feb;23(2):158-169. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.11.003. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Authors

Robert X D Hawkins¹, Noah D Goodman², Robert L Goldstone³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
² Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
³ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. Electronic address: rgoldsto@indiana.edu.

PMID: 30522867
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.11.003

Abstract

The utility of our actions frequently depends upon the beliefs and behavior of other agents. Thankfully, through experience, we learn norms and conventions that provide stable expectations for navigating our social world. Here, we review several distinct influences on their content and distribution. At the level of individuals locally interacting in dyads, success depends on rapidly adapting pre-existing norms to the local context. Hence, norms are shaped by complex cognitive processes involved in learning and social reasoning. At the population level, norms are influenced by intergenerational transmission and the structure of the social network. As human social connectivity continues to increase, understanding and predicting how these levels and time scales interact to produce new norms will be crucial for improving communities.

Keywords: Norms; communication; conventions; coordination; social reasoning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Communication*
Humans
Interpersonal Relations*
Social Behavior*
Social Learning*
Social Norms*