Social norms versus social responsibility

false expectations of leniency in the punishment of transgressions

Revised edition
Social norms versus social responsibility
Francesca Gino, Francesca Gino
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Last edited by MARC Bot
September 16, 2024 | History

Social norms versus social responsibility

false expectations of leniency in the punishment of transgressions

Revised edition

This paper combines experimental and field data to examine how those who transgress rules may elicit more stringent penalties from those with the authority to punish them if they appeal to relevant norms endorsing leniency. Specifically, we test how transgressors are punished when it's their birthday: a day when social norms dictate people should be treated preferentially. We first use a scenario study to establish that individuals expect leniency on their birthday. We then show that, compared to other days, transgressors are penalized more severely when it's their birthday, both by law enforcement (using more than 134,000 arrest records for drunk driving in Washington State) and by participants with the authority to penalize transgressions in an experimental lab setting. An additional experiment provides evidence that this effect is driven by psychological reactance rather than by overcompensation for potential bias. We discuss both the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

Publish Date
Language
English
Pages
51

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Book Details


Edition Notes

"June 2013. (Revised October 2013.)"--Publisher's Web site.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 40-48).

Published in
Boston]
Series
Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 13-101, Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 13-101

The Physical Object

Pagination
51 pages
Number of pages
51

Edition Identifiers

Open Library
OL55370797M
OCLC/WorldCat
862119644

Work Identifiers

Work ID
OL39593980W

Work Description

This paper combines experimental and field data to examine how those with discretion over punishment respond when confronted with social norms of leniency. Specifically, we test how individuals who have a responsibility to punish transgressions behave when confronted with the social norm of preferential treatment on people's birthdays. We first establish the existence of this social norm using a scenario study. We then show that individuals behave in the opposite way than that suggested by the social norm: they punish transgressors more severely on their birthdays, both in the realm of actual drunk driving enforcement and in an experimental lab setting where participants were given the responsibility to punish. An additional experiment provides evidence that this effect is driven by psychological reactance rather than by overcompensation for potential bias. We discuss both the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

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