The ontogenetic emergence of normativity: How action imitation relates to infants’ norm enforcement

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105591
• Publication Date: 2022-11-24T13:37:39Z
• Authors: Samuel Essler; Natalie Christner; Tamara Becher; Markus Paulus
• Keywords: Normative social influence

Major developmental theories allot imitation a pivotal role in the cultural acquisition of social norms. Although there exists considerable evidence young children's norm enforcement behavior, ontogenetic emergence normativity and is debated. Here, we assessed two pathways how general tendencies might relate to enforcement: The compliance path holds that lead displaying compliant which turn predicts toward third parties. internalization suggests an internal representation normative rules. As children observe parties' transgressions, perceived discrepancy between internalized rule observed behavior arises, triggers corrective action, is, behavior. We 18-month-olds' (N = 97) across four tasks, their with maternal directives self-distress as well protest following transgressions. Results showed (a) whereas significantly predicted did not predict (b) self-distress, enforcement. These findings speak one psychological basis highlight importance normativity.