Social Norms

1. Social Norms
Alcohol & Drug Abuse

2. What are social norms?
Social norms are the expected behaviors of a society
Social norms are different in every culture
They may be true or false

3. What came before social norms?
the predominant methods of deterring drug and alcohol use was:
1.Scare Tactic -this approach tried to scare individuals with negative consequences such as physical and emotional to deter use

4. How do social norms affect us?
Most people want to fit into society
Social norms influence the way we act and think
If we think that an act is acceptable we are more likely to do the same
It perpetuates delinquent behavior and bad decision making

5. Founders of social norms
Alan David Berkowitz & H. Wesley Perkins
Together in 1986 they published the first major study on social norms and drinking
They found that the most effective method of changing behavior is changing perception

6. How are social norms evaluated?
evaluated through survey
Initial survey given to evaluate actual use v. perception
Social norms campaign is rolled out
Second survey is given to evaluate change
Change in behaviors can be seen on police reports
Campus crime reports

7. Social Norm Studies
ESU is currently conducting a social norms survey on residential freshmen to evaluate perceived norms.
One recent study was able to evaluate 28,000 students over 44 college campus
survey compares actual drinking/drug use to perceived use
studies prove social norms dramatically drinking and drug use
East Stroudsburg University

8. Media effect on social norms
Negatively impacts social norms
Movies such as animal house and old school portray college students as raging alcoholics who do nothing but party
Reduction in
negative portrayal
could reduce
delinquent acts

9. How do we change social norms?
I DONT NEED TO DRINK TO HAVE FUN
I LOVE TO BINGE DRINK
Change the way that people think
Social Norms Campaign can be powerful if backed up with strong information and proper marketing
Make drinking and drug use less acceptable in society

10. Conclusion
Effective social norms campaigns are able to reduce the rate of drinking and drug use
As a result of this the number of assaults, injuries, date rape, and other such delinquent behavior is drastically decreased
Quality of life is improved an community gains a more realistic perception of themselves

11. What percentage of ESU students have never used marijuana?
According to the 2007 Core Alcohol & Drug Survey 62.8% have never used marijuana
0-15
15-30
30-45
45-60
60-75
75-90
90-100

12. Questions
Are you affected by social norms?
Who is responsible for creating social norms?
What can you do to change social norms?
What other methods can be used to change delinquent behavior?
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?
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13. Works Cited
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/SupportingResearch/Journal/baer.aspx
http://www.socialnorm.org
http://www.alanberkowitz.com/articles/social_norms.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_norms
http://www.bagpiping.org/balmoral/schedule_files/eaststroudsburg1.jpg
http://www.chicompany.net/images/Pony%20Keg%20Straight%20Sided.JPG
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_Old_School/2003_old_school_002.jpg
http://images.clipartof.com/small/37661-Clipart-Illustration-Of-Green-And-Red-True-And-False-Push-Buttons-On-A-Control-Panel.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYx7YG0RsFY

Social Norms

Education