Social norms exercise overwhelming force over even trained observers of behavior

Evidence

When I catch myself wanting to cheer the students who are anguished by connection and terrified of its loss, I consider the meaning of “no exit” as recounted in a personal recollection of the social psychologist Stanley Milgram regarding an experiment that demonstrated “the power of immediate circumstances on feelings and behavior.” … Milgram’s class was studying the force with which social norms control behavior. He had the idea of examining the real-life phenomenon by having his students approach a person on the subway and, without providing any justification, simply look the person in the eye and ask for his or her seat. One afternoon, Milgram himself boarded the subway ready to make his contribution. Despite his years of observing and theorizing disturbing patterns of human behavior, it turned out that he was unprepared for his own moment of social confrontation. Assuming that it would be an “easy” caper, Milgram approached a passenger and was about to utter the “magical phrase” when “the words seemed lodged in my trachea and would simply not emerge. I stood there frozen, then retreated… I was overwhelmed by paralyzing inhibition.” The psychologist eventually hectored himself into trying again. He recounts what occurred when he finally approached a passenger and “choked out” his request: “Excuse me, sir, may I have your seat?” — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1507

Categorization

• CANDY: Milgram, the obedience researcher, literally froze when he had to break a social norm himself—delicious elevator story.
• SHARE: For a psychology-interested friend: Milgram was incapacitated by asking a stranger for a subway seat.
• XREF: connects to: Behavioral inconsistency masks consistency with shifting social norms.; External social norms may be the strongest cues suppressing prejudiced expression — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2120; People over-attribute behavior to character rather than situational pressures. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 152 (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• Apparent inner conflict often masks attempts to match local norms #corroborates (0.88) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1937
• Behavioral inconsistency masks consistency with shifting social norms. #expands (0.85)
• The absence of conflict in normal people masks authority’s prior suppression of instinct #expands (0.85)
• Intelligent judgement compensates excluded instincts by resisting social force #complicates (0.82) — Theodor W. Adorno, Minima Moralia, 219
• External social norms may be the strongest cues suppressing prejudiced expression #exemplifies (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2120
• Manipulating social norms proves a powerful way to reduce prejudice #exemplifies (0.78) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1938
• The mere feeling of being observed shifts behavior from selfish to reciprocal norms #expands (0.78)
• Mere perceived visibility changes prosocial norms even without actual observation #expands (0.75) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 87
• Stress, threat, and lack of information increase conformity to group norms #corroborates (0.75) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 186
• People over-attribute behavior to character rather than situational pressures. #complicates (0.72) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 152