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Norm Enforcement in Heterogeneous Groups

Sanctioning By Majorities and Isolated Minorities

Department of Sociology, 204 Wilson-Short Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA, chorne{at}wsu.edu

Research shows that two factors are important for norm enforcement in homogeneous groups — the consequences of an individual's behavior for group members and the interdependence of those members. I extend existing theory to make predictions about norm enforcement in heterogeneous groups. Predictions for both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups are tested using experimental methods. The findings show that, in homogeneous groups, the two causal factors interact to affect both enforcement and compliance with social norms. In heterogeneous groups, they lead isolated minorities to enforce majority norms but not follow them, and they encourage majorities to follow norms but not enforce them.

Key Words: norms • norm enforcement • sanctions

Rationality and Society, Vol. 20, No. 2, 147-172 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1043463108089543


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