Observability, Social Proximity, and the Erosion of Norm Compliance

Cristina Bicchieri, Eugen Dimant, Simon Gächter and Daniele Nosenzo

No 9, ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series from University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany

Abstract: We study how an individual's compliance with social norms is influenced by other actors' norm compliance. In a repeated non-strategic Take-or-Give donation experiment we show that giving is considered socially appropriate while taking is sociallyinappropriate.Observing norm violations erodesanindividual'sownnormcompliance.Weshowthatthe erosion of norm compliance is led by a change in norm-related beliefs.This change has a major effect on individuals who initially obey the norm,driving them to non-compliance, whereas initially non-compliant individuals do not change their taking behavior.Erosion is halted when individuals have even minimal social proximity to those they observe: individuals now also pay attention to norm followers.

Keywords: Norm Compliance; Social Norms; Social Proximity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C92 D64 D9 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 73 pages
Date: 2020-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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https://www.econtribute.de/RePEc/ajk/ajkdps/ECONtribute_009_2020.pdf First version, 2020 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Observability, Social Proximity, and the Erosion of Norm Compliance (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:009

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