On the emergence of descriptive norms. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muldoon, Ryan; Lisciandra, Chiara; Bicchieri, Cristina; Hartmann, Stephan; Sprenger, Jan
• Is Part Of: Politics, philosophy & economics. Volume 13:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: norm emergence -- social norms -- norm dynamics -- agent-based modeling -- simulation -- descriptive norms; Social sciences and ethics -- Periodicals; Philosophy and social sciences -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1470594X12447791
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-594X

Abstract

A descriptive norm is a behavioral rule that individuals follow when their empirical expectations of others following the same rule are met. We aim to provide an account of the emergence of descriptive norms by first looking at a simple case, that of the standing ovation. We examine the structure of a standing ovation, and show it can be generalized to describe the emergence of a wide range of descriptive norms.