How have societal norms shifted?

Societal norms have shifted significantly over recent years due to several factors, including media influence, social movements, and technology. Here's an overview based on experts’ insights:

Influence of Social Media

Social media has accelerated changes in societal norms by making it easier to spread new ideas and hold people accountable. For instance, Steven Pearlstein discusses how social media can be a tool for shaming unethical corporate behavior, advocating for public denunciation of underpaying employers and excessive executive compensation. This method leverages collective pressure to foster change in business practices and societal values 1.

Changes in Behavior and Expectations

highlights how peer pressure and shared expectations shape behaviors. In Rwanda, societal transformation from violence to tolerance was illustrated through collective actions. Erwin Staub emphasizes understanding violence's origin to foresee and mitigate future escalations, pointing out the fragile nature of societal norms where behaviors and norms must be continually reinforced to maintain positive changes 2.

Long-Term Norm Shifts

Norm changes typically take decades. Jonathan Haidt cites anti-smoking campaigns and shifts in attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights as examples. His observations suggest that while societal norms usually shift over decades, influential factors like government policies and public campaigns can hasten these changes 3.

Cultural and Legal Impacts

According to Seth Godin, effective norm changes require a combination of policy adjustments and cultural shifts. He describes how increasing taxes on cigarettes effectively reduced smoking rates by altering the social acceptance of smoking, highlighting how norms and rules interplay in shaping behavior 4.

Vigilance and Sustained Efforts

Experts stress the importance of vigilance in maintaining positive changes. The case study of Rwanda, where a radio soap opera promoted reconciliation, exemplifies how societal norms can quickly shift but require continuous effort to sustain. Changing from hate to tolerance underscores that societal currents are fickle and need constant reinforcement to prevent regression 5.

These insights underscore the complexity of how societal norms evolve and the multi-faceted efforts required to foster and maintain positive societal changes.