Observability, Social Proximity, and the Erosion of Norm Compliance

Cristina Bicchieri, Eugen Dimant, Simon Gaechter and Daniele Nosenzo
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Simon Gächter

No 8212, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We study how an individual‘s compliance with social norms is inuenced 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 socially inappropriate. Observing norm violations erodes an individual‘s own norm compliance. We show that the 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 D90 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Working Paper: Observability, Social Proximity, and the Erosion of Norm Compliance (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8212

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