Likes vs. yikes: Group norm perception through conflicting information

Abstract: This research explores how individuals, particularly newcomers, perceive group social norms when exposed to conflicting behavioral information. While group behaviors often exhibit variation, little attention has been given to how individuals psychologically process contradictory information to interpret group norms, especially for newcomers constrained by limited observations and interactions with existing group members. We examine two key processes - motivated reasoning and negativity bias - and their influence on how individuals perceive group social norms. Across two studies, we found that when receiving conflicting behavioral information, individuals’ perceptions of group norms were predominantly shaped by individuals’ preferences for certain behaviors, regardless of norm content. The findings suggest that newcomers’ perceptions of group social norms are more the product of motivated reasoning than negativity bias. Understanding these processes offers insights into how conflicting information about group behaviors can shape and potentially alter behaviors in groups through perceptions of group social norms.

Keywords: social norm, norm perception, organizational culture, experiment