Presentation_Krieger - Norms Shifting Interventions
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The document discusses the origins and theories of social norms. It notes that early theorists like Durkheim, Weber, and Ogburn contributed to understanding where norms come from and how they guide behavior. Parsons further explored how members of society are socialized to norms. Later, feminist anthropologists studied norms and social control, especially regarding gender. The document contrasts philosophical, psychological, and anthropological approaches to studying norms and culture. It argues that knowledge of cultural norms can help reduce unexpected outcomes in social science and shift narratives to achieve behavior change. The example of the Albania Family Planning Project shows how understanding local norms was key to successfully promoting contraceptive use.
Presentation_Krieger - Norms Shifting Interventions
- 1. Laurie Krieger, Ph.D. Senior Advisor, Health and Social Science
- 2. Genesis of Norms in Modern Social Science Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) (a founder of sociology and social epidemiology—Suicide; anomie=normlessness) Max Weber (1864-1920) (never mentioned norms but wrote much of the theory on norms; justify social hierarchies) William Ogburn (1886-1959) “Cultural Lag” (1922) demonstrated convincingly that behavior often changes, then culture, e.g., norms must catch up Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) Where do norms come from? How members of society are socialized to norms; norms as rules to guide behavior; function of norms
- 3. Anthropologists and norms Feminist anthropologists—1970s and 1980s (e.g., norms, social control and gender: from Weber and Durkheim) Ideal and behavioral norms; normative conflict; use of competing norms in daily life Norms Several norms can guide / justify behavior Conflicting norms justify different behavior Norms Behavior Norms Norms Norms Behavior
- 4. What is your theory based on? All have their strengths and weaknesses Philosophy: Based on logic Psychology: Empirical: based on experiments, observations of Western individuals (often clinical patients going to psychologist because they perceive they have a problem or university students) Anthropology: Empirical, inductive--live/observe in community or study group over period of often 1-2 years; observe culture in action, compare what people say they do with what anthropologist observes people doing; multi-method
- 5. Culture-sharers are more than a bunch of individuals Culture, although it changes, is the glue that holds people together now, 100 years from now, 100 years ago—people who don’t know each other still share norms We need a “Superorganic” Doesn’t matter which definition of culture used: All are somewhat constructivist, COGNITIVE, emphasize SHARED, TRANSMITTED OVER GENERATIONS, CHANGING, ADAPTATION to environment, etc.
- 6. Social Science—culture-- helps reduce unexpected outcomes Concepts of culture and society provide: knowledge of what to look for in formative research; what fits together with what—i.e., how to operationalize the ecological approach; what may covary with change (e.g., OC use, work outside the home, and female gender norms)
- 7. Knowledge to shift narrative to different normative context Albania (Albania Family Planning Project): 2004-2007 Withdrawal + abortionTFR 1.9 Formative research on: the cultural embeddedness of FP, marriage, gender, fertility, sex, their norms and associated emotions (sexuality, marital trust, and male self-mastery) 1) Contraception as marital sex aid & 2) added information to shift male narrative away from self-mastery gender norm to method effectiveness Outreach negotiation counseling (ONC) by community nurses 3 TV spots; call-in shows
- 8. Albania Results Contraceptive use went up nation-wide; can’t attribute this only to AFPP because others working. In conservative ONC pilot areas, CPR 6% 68% in about 3 months; less conservative areas, CPR 13% 59% in 3+ months (can attribute this to ONC + TV) (same contraceptive security + clinical training as other project districts)
- 9. Take Aways Norms are embedded in and form part of the social and cultural matrix Norms legitimate, justify, and guide behavior Norms reinforce the social structure but can be used to circumvent power structures Several, even competing, norms can cover the same situation. Norms: usually contextual, often competitive and provide member s of a culture/society with freedom of action: agency
Editor's Notes
- #6: Reaction to family separation is a good example of people from completely different reference groups sharing the same reaction due to society-wide norms (e.g., Christian fundamentalists reacted the same way as atheists; blue collar workers, farmers, professionals, and Warren Buffet reacted similarly.
- #7: 1. Culture and society are the glue that hold people together today, Monday May 6, 2019 and over generations and culture change. If you want to chaange norms, which are part of culture, you need a concept of culture.
- #8: Shifted narrative to method from man and culturally constructed gender identity to method itself and. norm that one should value science.
- #11: Shifting narrative in the Philippines from natural vs artificial contraceptives to responsibility to self and family and norms about what parents want for their chiildren’s future.