SMU SOE Seminar Series (November 21, 2024): The Fragility of Social Norms: Evidence from a Youth Reformative Training Center

TOPIC:

ABSTRACT

We investigate the preferences and beliefs that shape the peer culture of misbehavior in a Youth Reformative Training Center (RTC). The misbehavior in the RTC is not due to an inherent inclination among youths to commit offenses, as most believe these actions are undesirable. However, many underestimate their peers’ support for positive behavior within the RTC. In a randomized control trial, we delivered announcements in both public and private settings to inform youths about the actual attitudes toward offenses. Our findings show that this intervention effectively corrected misperceptions and significantly reduced the incidence of offenses within the RTC. This study offers a policy approach to uncovering and addressing the roots of social norms that may not align with private sentiments.

Keywords: Youth, Social Norms, Experiment, Misperceived Norms, Policy-making and Juvenile Justice, Peer Influence.

JEL: D70, D83, K00, Z10.

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