As an investigation of how behaviours are socially regulated, the study of social norms has been one of the most exciting areas of social psychology during the past decade. Norms not only affect what we do but also how we think and the judgments we make.
Beginning with an examination of the norm of internality, followed by essays which explore a range of related concepts, this collection demonstrates that the social judgment norm construct and the sociocognitive approach in which it is embedded offers a clear understanding of social thinking at school, at work and everywhere evaluative practices are concerned. Individual essays draw upon numerous laboratory studies and wide-ranging case studies in providing a comprehensive representation of not only conceptual ideas but also methodological and applied issues. Topics explored include: the concept of norm, conformity and deviance, individualism, internality normativity and evaluative knowledge and the application of such social norm theories to organizations and education.
A Sociocognitive Approach to Social Norms makes this under-exposed area of research available to an English speaking audience for the first time and as such it will be of invaluable interest to researchers and advanced students in the fields of social psychology, sociology, education and social work and also the practitioner of social evaluation and those with an interest in the practical application of these normative ideas.