Risk, sanctions and norm change: the formation and decay of social distancing norms

Social norm change: drivers and consequences

Social norms research is booming. In recent years, several experts have recommended using social norms (unwritten rules that prescribe what people ought or ought not to do) to confront the societal, environmental and health challenges our societies face. If we are to do so, a better understanding is required of how social norms themselves emerge, evolve and respond to these challenges. Social norms have long been used as post hoc explanations of behaviour or are seen as stable social constructs. Yet norms evolve dynamically with the changing group processes (e.g. political polarization, kinship structures) and societal challenges (e.g. pandemics, climate change) for which they are presented as solutions. The Theme Issue 'Social norm change: drivers and consequences' contains 14 contributions that present state-of-the-art approaches to understand what generates social norm change and how this impacts our societies. Contributions give insight into (i) the identification of norms, norm change and their effect on behaviour; (ii) drivers and consequences of spontaneous norm change; and (iii) how norm change can be engineered to promote desired behavioural change. This article is part of the theme issue 'Social norm change: drivers and consequences'.

Changes in social norms during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic across 43 countries

The emergence of COVID-19 dramatically changed social behavior across societies and contexts. Here we study whether social norms also changed. Specifically, we study this question for cultural tightness (the degree to which societies generally have strong norms), specific social norms (e.g. stealing, hand washing), and norms about enforcement, using survey data from 30,431 respondents in 43 countries recorded before and in the early stages following the emergence of COVID-19. Using variation in disease intensity, we shed light on the mechanisms predicting changes in social norm measures. We find evidence that, after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, hand washing norms increased while tightness and punishing frequency slightly decreased but observe no evidence for a robust change in most other norms. Thus, at least in the short term, our findings suggest that cultures are largely stable to pandemic threats except in those norms, hand washing in this case, that are perceived to be directly relevant to dealing with the collective threat.

An Unprecedented Experience: Personal and Socio-Political Impacts of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to understand the experiences of different cultures and the application of preventive measures during a pandemic. That understanding can lead to the development of important evidence to grasp the global situation and prepare for future health crises. This qualitative study explores the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on individuals in Saudi Arabia, focusing on personal and socio-political effects. Employing semi-structured interviews with 28 participants, the research delves into the lived experiences during the early stages of the pandemic, highlighting emotional coping mechanisms, behavioral changes, role responsibility adaptations, and perceptions of governmental actions. The findings reveal a spectrum of emotional responses, from worry and fear to acceptance and contentment, and significant shifts in behavior and societal norms. The study underscores the importance of understanding cultural contexts in pandemic responses and offers insights into the resilience and adaptability of the Saudi community. It suggests the need for tailored interventions that consider the complex interplay of emotional, behavioral, and socio-political factors in managing future health crises.