Social norms influence behaviors and perceptions in a society. Social norms regarding alcohol and drug use have changed over time, moving from scare tactics to social norms campaigns. Social norms campaigns work by conducting surveys to understand actual drug and alcohol use versus perceived use, then implementing campaigns to change misperceptions and make unhealthy behaviors seem less acceptable. These types of campaigns have been shown to significantly reduce rates of binge drinking and drug use on college campuses.

1. Social NormsAlcohol & Drug Abuse

2. What are social norms?Social norms are the expected behaviors of a societySocial norms are different in every cultureThey may be true or false

3. What came before social norms?the predominant methods of deterring drug and alcohol use was:1.Scare Tactic -this approach tried to scare individuals with negative consequences such as physical and emotional to deter use

4. How do social norms affect us?Most people want to fit into societySocial norms influence the way we act and thinkIf we think that an act is acceptable we are more likely to do the sameIt perpetuates delinquent behavior and bad decision making

5. Founders of social normsAlan David Berkowitz & H. Wesley PerkinsTogether in 1986 they published the first major study on social norms and drinkingThey found that the most effective method of changing behavior is changing perception

6. How are social norms evaluated?evaluated through surveyInitial survey given to evaluate actual use v. perceptionSocial norms campaign is rolled outSecond survey is given to evaluate changeChange in behaviors can be seen on police reports Campus crime reports

7. Social Norm StudiesESU is currently conducting a social norms survey on residential freshmen to evaluate perceived norms.One recent study was able to evaluate 28,000 students over 44 college campus’survey compares actual drinking/drug use to perceived usestudies prove social norms dramatically drinking and drug useEast Stroudsburg University

8. Media effect on social normsNegatively impacts social normsMovies such as animal house and old school portray college students as raging alcoholics who do nothing but partyReduction in negative portrayal could reduce delinquent acts

9. How do we change social norms?I DON’T NEED TO DRINK TO HAVE FUNI LOVE TO BINGE DRINKChange the way that people think Social Norms Campaign can be powerful if backed up with strong information and proper marketingMake drinking and drug use less acceptable in society

10. ConclusionEffective social norms campaigns are able to reduce the rate of drinking and drug useAs a result of this the number of assaults, injuries, date rape, and other such delinquent behavior is drastically decreasedQuality of life is improved an community gains a more realistic perception of themselves

11. What percentage of ESU students have never used marijuana?According to the 2007 Core Alcohol & Drug Survey 62.8% have never used marijuana0-1515-3030-4545-6060-7575-9090-100

12. QuestionsAre you affected by social norms?Who is responsible for creating social norms?What can you do to change social norms?What other methods can be used to change delinquent behavior????

13. Works Citedhttp://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/SupportingResearch/Journal/baer.aspxhttp://www.socialnorm.orghttp://www.alanberkowitz.com/articles/social_norms.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_normshttp://www.bagpiping.org/balmoral/schedule_files/eaststroudsburg1.jpghttp://www.chicompany.net/images/Pony%20Keg%20Straight%20Sided.JPGhttp://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_Old_School/2003_old_school_002.jpghttp://images.clipartof.com/small/37661-Clipart-Illustration-Of-Green-And-Red-True-And-False-Push-Buttons-On-A-Control-Panel.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYx7YG0RsFY