Free University of Brussels issued the following announcement on July 10.
From moral support to concrete aid to refugees, there is one step. A study shows the role of trigger played by the social norm.
Between a "like" or a "post sharing" on social networks and the reception or help of refugees in the field, there is a margin. What factor explains whether we cross it or not? This question is at the heart of research conducted by Antoine Roblain - Research Center in Social and Cultural Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education - Émilien Paulis and Émilie Van Haute - Cevipol, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences. In a recent publication , they show the influence that the social norm can have on the action of individuals.
To do this, the researchers surveyed two audiences. On the one hand, they questioned those close to the Citizen Support Platform for Refugees in Brussels and on the other hand they questioned Swiss citizens who are mobilizing (or not) on immigration.
By analyzing their responses as well as the participants' social networks, they were able to show that the more or less strong pressure created by the pre-existing social norm within certain groups of individuals pushes them to act or not.
This publication enters directly into the research carried out by Antoine Roblain and Émilie Van Haute on political participation and the work of Emilien Paulis on social networks.
Original source: https://actus.ulb.be/fr/actus/recherche/soutien-aux-refugies-le-role-de-la-norme-sociale