The Role of Social Norms in Pro-Social Behavior

Introduction

Pro-social behavior is defined as behavior that benefits another person or had positive social consequences (Staub 1978). A norm is a set of rules based on socially or culturally shared belief of how an individual ought to behave. Therefore a social norm regulates behavior within a group. Social norms can be either encouraging or discouraging toward pro-social behavior, depending on the situation and norms involved. Social norms define the "rules" of helping others with three social norms: reciprocity, responsibility, and justice. The norm of reciprocity is based on maintaining fairness in social relationships. The norm of responsibility states that we should help when others are in need and dependent on us. The norm of social justice stipulates that people should help only when they believe that others deserve assistance. I am going to survey both IB and Traditional high school students to determine how social norms affect whom do we help. I expect that because my survey sampling population is all high school students that they will be more likely to ultimately help a friend above all.

Although I expected to find a major difference between the two groups, I found out that among all of the high school students they are more likely to help or friends, 57% ranked helping a friend above helping a misfortunate person and everyone. 83% answered that they have helped a friend with homework more than 4 times in the past 12 months, and 53% answered that they have allowed a friend to cut in front of them in the lunch line. And 100% scaled the importance of helping a friend a 4 or more. This shows that the norm of social justice has the strongest affect on us. Although the norm of responsibility was close behind. 30% ranked helping a misfortunate person above helping a friend and everyone else. However on Questions 1-2 about the norm of responsibility 70% answered that they had given to