2026/04/10 by Franz Dietrich, Kai Spiekermann · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · Neuroscience · #Philosophical Ethics and Theory #Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies #Embodied and Extended Cognition
paper · doi:10.1017/s0266267126100704
openalex created_date 2026/03/04 · openalex publication_date 2026/04/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract Many theorists tie social norms to attitudes, such as expectations towards others, perhaps along with conforming practices. Challenging this view, we instead ground social norms in a social norming process , an often non-verbal social communication process that ‘makes’ the norm through mutual expressions of support. We present the process-based account of social norms and social normativity, and distinguish social norms from social pressures, social practices and Lewisian conventions. The process-based view brings social norms closer to legal norms, by tying them to ‘expressive acts’, just as laws and contracts arise through acts of voting or signing, not through mere attitudes.