Page 28 - Social Norms Survey

INTRODUCTION

A country’s cultural norms are transmitted, broadly, by its governing entity. The governing

body usually sets out the standard ideology or beliefs that will guide the governing of
the country. Educational institutions and families teach and reinforce these beliefs and

behaviours. The beliefs are referred to as values and the behaviours that support these
values are referred to as norms. Norms are the typical attitudes and behaviours within

the country. There may be sub-groups or communities within a country, such as African
Americans living in the USA, which may have their own set of attitudes and behaviours,

while also conforming to the national culture. In the Caribbean, we may see differing
values and norms within and between classes and ethnic groups (such as East Indian or

indigenous populations).

SOCIAL NORMS
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines social Social and cultural
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and cultural norms as “rules or expectations of norms are “rules or
behaviour and thoughts based on shared beliefs within expectations of

a specific cultural or social group.” Although usually behaviour and
thoughts based on
unspoken, these norms “offer social standards for shared beliefs within

appropriate and inappropriate behaviour governing a specific cultural or
what is (and is not) acceptable and coordinating our social group”-

interactions with others.” Social and cultural norms are World Health Organisation
highly influential over individual behaviour in a broad

variety of contexts, including violence and its prevention, because norms can create an
environment that can either foster or mitigate violence and its deleterious effects.

According to Cristina Bicchiere of the University of Pennsylvania, “people have certain

expectations that come from well-established scripts of how things are (and should be)
in the world, and these scripts include shared social norms.” She uses the example of

what most drivers expect of other drivers. When what they consider to be common and
legitimate behaviour is violated, they usually get angry.

L. Rowell Huesmann, Professor of Psychology and Communication Studies at the University

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