Harmful Social Norms? Why They Persist and How to Change Them

In this research series, Dr. David Smerdon (Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland’s Schools of Economics) presents a behavioral economics perspective on the persistence of harmful social norms. Despite widespread private disagreement, such norms often endure due to mechanisms like pluralistic ignorance and social conformity. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical insights, Dr. Smerdon discusses how targeted interventions can disrupt these dynamics and promote positive social change.