Overview[edit | edit source]

The amygdala has the hard-coded genetic stuff, and the cortex handles the "think it through" stuff. In between is a layer where trained experience can be stored and give canned responses to pattern matched stimuli. Rules like, "Don't put that in your mouth, it's dirty," "Don't say the N-word," or, "Red-Sox suck!"

It mostly comes from repeated exposure, with some degree of cortex-level analysis before adoption.

The cortex can and does override norm-based "quick responses," much as norms or the cortex can override genetic things like, "it's long and thin and black and red, it's a snake, run!"

Broadly speaking, those quick response rules are a hug part of how society works. They cover things like, "How are you today?" "I'm fine." A huge chunk of the social lubricant that enables humans to cooperate - in much larger groups than any other apex predator - comes from norms.

Social Reinforcement[edit | edit source]

Social reinforcement of norms is central to their propagation and reinforcement. This is a major part of how social groups adopt similar behavior patterns. Social media groups and filter bubbles have enabled norms to make the leap to the global scale.

Social propagation of norms is why some social groups have pervasive beliefs that are unsupported by evidence.

In a particularly striking finding, the study found that 37 percent of all dog owners believed vaccines could cause their pets to develop cognitive problems, such as "canine/feline autism." - Ars Technica Article

Experience[edit | edit source]

Experientially, norms are the the thing that makes you go, "I know the answer," before your cortex gets involved and identifies the reasoning. This is how you can find yourself certain of the answer but scrambling to come up with a rationalization.

One common one is "I can't have that but it's OK, I didn't really want it." The "Sour Grapes" norm lets us get on with our lives when we miss out on something, and it typically activates before we have a chance to come up with the reason we don't actually want the thing we can't have. "I didn't actually want those grapes." "Why not?" "... ummm ... Oh! I know; they're probably sour."

Norms can alter or create emotional responses to become action drivers. For example, if you see a person being attacked on the street, you might have an emotional response leading to some sequence of actions like shouting "Stop!" or calling for help. But if the attacker is wearing a police uniform and you have a norm, "Police are good and sometimes have to use force," it would alter the emotional response. Or maybe, "Police are ready to use force and I don't want to catch a beating for interfering."

Example: Autism and Social Anxiety[edit | edit source]

One of the symptoms associated with the autism spectrum is social difficulty. It presents as awkwardness, discomfort, masking, and social fatigue. That can occur if one has social norms that don't align with the group they are interacting with. Instead of automatic responses that are accepted as conventional, they have to think through each response. Masking norms involves a higher cognitive load, and reactions may be slower, less authentic, or perplexing.

Coming Up[edit | edit source]

Teaser: Norms are how most people operate most of the time; but scientists and philosophers want people to think critically. So scientists and philosophers invest in creating troves of data and evidence, and dedicate little effort to imparting norms. This is why charlatans and influencers have more impact on the course of human events.

Lovers of philosophy and science need to get over their superiority and work on indoctrination.

It has worked before, perhaps most famously during The Enlightenment.