The Gist How to Make Crime Feel Weird
6 snips
Jul 30, 2025 
Criminologist Nick Cowen, affiliated with NYU and the University of Lincoln, discusses the evolution of drunk driving from a social norm to a taboo. He emphasizes that societal norms can effectively deter crime, advocating lighter sanctions to change behavior. Cowen also explores how community-driven norm shifts could address violent crime clusters. Additionally, he reflects on the impact of media narratives surrounding recent mass shootings and links them to cultural issues like CTE in the NFL and its historical implications.
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Grandfather's Drunk Driving Anecdote
- Nick Cowen shares how his grandfather, a respected doctor, used to drive drunk, reflecting past social norms.
- This personal story illustrates how societal tolerance of drunk driving was once common among responsible individuals.
Deterrence Plus Norms Fight Crime
- Deterrence changes cost-benefit analysis by increasing perceived risk of punishment for drunk driving.
- Combined with public communication reinforcing social norms, this shifts behavior by making drunk driving abnormal.
Norms Matter More Than Morality
- People care more about appearing normal than moral when deciding behavior.
- Making drunk driving seem abnormal deters it effectively beyond just moral arguments.
