The Dissenter

#1210 Cristina Bicchieri: What Are Social Norms, and How do They Change?

Feb 2, 2026
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Cristina Bicchieri
Cristina Bicchieri, a University of Pennsylvania scholar of social norms and decision making, breaks down how expectations shape cooperation and behavior. She explains what makes norms stick or change. Conversation covers measuring norms, child marriage studies, group identity, the power of normative language, and norm-nudging strategies for social and climate action.
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INSIGHT

Two Expectations Define Social Norms

  • Social norms are supported by empirical and normative expectations held about people who matter to us.
  • A norm exists only if those expectations causally influence behavior via conditional preferences.
INSIGHT

Norms Keep Social Life Predictable

  • Social norms act as coordinating devices that create stable expectations and make social life possible.
  • Without norms, coordination collapses and social interaction becomes chaotic and anxious for outsiders.
INSIGHT

What Makes A Norm Strong

  • Norm strength is a status-quo property built from consistency, accuracy, and specificity of expectations.
  • Strong norms have collective agreement about a restricted set of acceptable behaviors.
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