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Wiley InterScience

Communication Theory

Communication Theory

Volume 15 Issue 2, Pages 127 - 147

Published Online: 10 Jan 2006

© 2010 International Communication Association



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An Explication of Social Norms
Maria Knight Lapinski 1 Rajiv N. Rimal 2
  1 Maria Knight Lapinski (PhD, 2000, Michigan State University) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Western Michigan University.   2 Rajiv N. Rimal (PhD, 1995, Stanford University) is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
Correspondence to  Comments should be directed to mlapinsk@wmich.edu.
Copyright 2005 International Communication Association

ABSTRACT

This article identifies four factors for consideration in norms-based research to enhance the predictive ability of theoretical models. First, it makes the distinction between perceived and collective norms and between descriptive and injunctive norms. Second, the article addresses the role of important moderators in the relationship between descriptive norms and behaviors, including outcome expectations, group identity, and ego involvement. Third, it discusses the role of both interpersonal and mass communication in normative influences. Lastly, it outlines behavioral attributes that determine susceptibility to normative influences, including behavioral ambiguity and the public or private nature of the behavior.


DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1468-2885.2005.tb00329.x About DOI

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