
The understanding of the dynamics of social mobilization and change has moved beyond public health and legal approaches. There is now greater appreciation of the role of social norms in promoting or hindering development and the protection of human rights. Moreover, there is evidence that gender inequality – which is one of the main root causes of many of the negative realities that women and children face – persists because of the presence of a set of social norms. There is also a clearer conceptualization and evidence on the dynamics required for changing harmful social norms and strengthening positive ones. In the light of these advances, the Penn Social Norms Group offers training and consulting on understanding, measuring and changing social norms.
For the full accounts of Prof. Bicchieri's theory of social norms, see: Norms in the Wild, Oxford University Press, 2016 and The Grammar of Society, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Also consider taking the Social Norms Coursera. For a sense of the Coursera's widespread impact, see Story 4 in UNICEF's Agora Annual Report 2016
For our recent collaboration with Chatham House, please read: Collective Action on Corruption in Nigeria: A Social Norms Approach to Connecting Society and Institutions
Penn + Gates Project: The Social Determinants of Open Defecation in India
Working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are in the midst of a three-year study analyzing social networks and social norms related to open defecation in two Indian states: Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Developing culturally appropriate social measures and survey questions, we are in the process of unpacking the core social motivators for a host of OD-related behaviors.
As part of the first phase of this project, we have produced a report detailing ways in which social networks influence latrine ownership, demographic predictors of ownership and use, and how our findings differ from existing literature. To request access to the report and related materials, please complete this form. Once you complete it, we will share a folder with you containing the materials within a few days.
Journal Articles
Norms of Cooperation, Cristina Bicchieri
Behaving as Expected: Public Information and Fairness Norms, Cristina Bicchieri and Alex Chavez
Norm Manipulation, Norm Evasion: Experimental Evidence, Cristina Bicchieri and Alex K. Chavez
A Structured Approach to a Diagnostic of Collective Practices, Cristina Bicchieri, Jan W. Lindemans, and Ting Jiang
Do the Right Thing: But Only if Others do so, Cristina Bicchieri and Erte Xiao
Is Participation Contagious? Evidence From a Household Vector Control Campaign in Urban Peru, Alison Buttenheim, Valerie Paz-Soldan, Corentin M. Barbu, Christine Skovira, Javier E. Quintanilla Calderón, Lina Margot Mollesaca Riveros, Juan Oswaldo Cornejo, Dylan Small, Cristina Bicchieri, Cesar Naquira, and Michael Z. Levy
Can Trust Facilitate Bribery? Experimental Evidence From China, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands, Ting Jiang, Jan Willem Lindemans, and Cristina Bicchieri
Why Are There Descriptive Norms? Because We Looked for Them, Ryan Muldoon, Chiara Lisciandra, and Stephan Hartmann
Books
Why Do People Do What They Do? A Social Norms Manual for Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines, Cristina Bicchieri
Why Do People Do What They Do? A Social Norms Manual for Zimbabwe and Swaziland, Cristina Bicchieri
Applying Social Norms Theory in CATS Programming, Cristina Bicchieri and Thomas Noah
Book Chapters
Diagnosing Norms, Cristina Bicchieri
Norms, Conventions, and the Power of Expectations, Cristina Bicchieri
The Rules We Live By, Cristina Bicchieri
I Cannot Cheat On You After We Talk, Cristina Bicchieri and Alessandro Sontuoso
Longitudinal Egocentric Network and Norms Study (LENNS) - India Reports
Phase 2 Project Report. Social Networks and Norms: Sanitation in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, India, Cristina BICCHIERI, Sania Ashraf, Upasak Das, Maryann Delea, Hans-Peter Kohler, Jinyi Kuang, Peter McNally, Alexey Shpenev, and Erik Thulin
Phase 1 Project Report. Social Networks and Norms: Sanitation in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, India, Cristina Bicchieri, Sania Ashraf, Upasak Das, Hans-Peter Kohler, Jinyi Kuang, Peter McNally, Alexey Shpenev, and Erik Thulin
Other Content
A Social Norms Perspective on Child Marriage: The General Framework, Cristina Bicchieri, Ting Jiang, and Jan W. Lindemans
Technical Reports
Sector Sustainability Check: Rural Open Defecation Free (ODF) & Rural (Drinking) Water Supply Schemes (RWSS) Punjab & Sindh Provinces, Cristina Bicchieri, Erik Thulin, Annalisa Marini, Nadeem Haider, Asmat Gill, Aziz Usmani, Faisal Shahzad, Ghulam Dastageer, Reema Kamal, Badr-un-Nisa, Noor Gillani, Sher Jalal, Faisal Abbas, Sher Khan, Saud Khan, and Noman Khanzada
Working Papers
Shrieking Sirens - Schemata, Scripts, and Social Norms: How Change Occurs, Cristina Bicchieri and Peter McNally