Research

Adherence

Social Norms Approach (SNA) interventions that correct normative misperceptions about peer behaviors (descriptive or injunctive norms) can reduce negative health behaviors (e.g., alcohol, cannabis use) and promote positive ones (e.g., sun protection, condom use).

To encourage healthier behaviors in a group (like students or employees), use data to show what most people in that group actually do, rather than scaring them with risks. If people think everyone is drinking heavily, correct that by showing the majority drink moderately or not at all. This leverages social conformity to promote positive change.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
The SNA focuses on two types of (mis)perceived social norms in influencing individual behavior, these are: injunctive norms relating to the perceived attitudes or approval of behaviors by others; and descriptive norms relating to perceptions of others’ engagement in behaviors... Misperceptions of these social norms can have important implications for personal use... The SNA makes several assumptions about the influence of these social normative perceptions on behaviors... (iv) interventions which correct such misperceptions should promote more positive behaviors
Robert C. Dempsey et al. · Frontiers in Psychology · 2018

Why this rating

The paper is a critical appraisal/review noting mixed results, methodological flaws, and a lack of rigorous testing of the core assumptions in many studies.

Source

A Critical Appraisal of the Social Norms Approach as an Interventional Strategy for Health-Related Behavior and Attitude Change

Robert C. Dempsey et al. · Frontiers in Psychology · 2018

DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02180

narrative_reviewCited 262×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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