Question

When someone is sanctioned for deviating from a norm, this can reinforce the importance of that norm for other people. For example, when someone is fined for cheating the IRS, his or her friends may be jolted into being more careful about what they claim in their tax returns. Can you think of other such examples? How do you feel when someone you know "gets away" with violating a norm? Does it ever make you feel like you have a right to violate that norm as well (e.g traffic ticket, either speeding and not getting one or realizing when police are all over and a friend just got a $100 fine)?

Answer 1

People normally compare others when they do something. If the actions of others are accepted, they would follow them and if they are punished then they would refrain from doing it. This is true with deviating the norms too. Punishments by law ensures that others who think of violating the norms do not violate it. Although I had seen people escape without any sanction for violating the norms, I never thought of violating them because I’m aware of the consequences and just because someone escaped without any punishment doesn’t mean that it would happen to all. Besides, being truthful to oneself is more important than acting for other people.

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