Work

What are social norms?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Many theorists tie social norms to attitudes, such as expectations towards others, perhaps along with conforming practices. Challenging this view, we instead ground social norms in a social norming process , an often non-verbal social communication process that ‘makes’ the norm through mutual expressions of support. We present the process-based account of social norms and social normativity, and distinguish social norms from social pressures, social practices and Lewisian conventions. The process-based view brings social norms closer to legal norms, by tying them to ‘expressive acts’, just as laws and contracts arise through acts of voting or signing, not through mere attitudes.

Source: Economics and Philosophy

DOI: 10.1017/s0266267126100704

Authors: Franz Dietrich, Kai Spiekermann

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris School of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science

Language: English

Topic: Philosophical Ethics and Theory

Subfield: Philosophy

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

Funders: Brandeis University, Universität Bielefeld, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München