Transcription Group norms and pressure to conform
Group norms are shared rules, implicit or explicit, that specify how members of a group should or should not behave in various situations.
These norms are an essential element of group structure, regulating interaction, promoting predictability, and facilitating the achievement of group goals.
Definition and Types of Norms
Norms can cover a wide range of behaviors, from trivial matters such as dress or language used, to more fundamental matters such as values, attitudes, and performance standards.
Some norms are prescriptive (indicating what should be done) while others are proscriptive (indicating what should not be done).
They can be formal (written in regulations or codes of conduct) or informal (understood and transmitted through social interaction, not necessarily written down).
Functions of Norms Group Norms
Norms serve several important functions for the group and its members:
- Guidance for Behavior: They provide a frame of reference for how to act in social situations, reducing uncertainty and facilitating coordination.
- Group Maintenance: They contribute to the identity and cohesion of the group, differentiating it from other groups and helping to preserve its existence.
- Goal Achievement: They can facilitate the achievement of group goals by establishing standards for behavior and performance.
- Construction of Social Reality: Norms help members interpret and make sense of social situations, providing a shared view of reality.
Conformity to Group Norms
Groups exert considerable pressure on their members to conform to established norms.
This pressure can be explicit (for example, through sanctions or rewards) or implicit (through observation of others' behavior and the desire to be accepted).
As seen in the classic studies of Sherif and Asch, people tend to adjust their behavior, and sometimes their beliefs, to align with group norms, eithe
group norms and pressure to conform