Erez Yoeli (WoGPoP)
Date and Time
Location
Speaker & Title
Erez Yoeli, "Categorical Norms"
Abstract
Why are norms unduly sensitive to categorical distinctions compared to continuous variation? For instance, the norm against the use of chemical weapons considers the type of weapon used, not how much suffering was caused; human rights are conditioned on membership in the species homo sapiens not on an animal’s degree of sentience; norms promoting philanthropy emphasize donating, and are relatively insensitive to the impact a donation will have. Here we present a game theoretic model, which explains why it is easier for norms to be conditioned on categorical distinctions rather than on continuous variation. We explore the robustness of our results and present evolutionary simulations. Then, in a series of experiments, we demonstrate that participants’ moral intuitions and willingness to sanction norm violations are influenced by categorical distinctions rather than by continuous variation. We also show that the reliance on categorical distinctions weakens when norm enforcement plays less of a role. We discuss various applications, including territoriality, human rights, inefficient altruism, institutionalized racism, and collusion.
Joint work with Moshe Hoffman, Aygun Dalkiran, Bethany Burum, and Martin Nowak.
The Working Group in Political Psychology and Behavior (WOGPOP) is an interdisciplinary forum for the presentation and discussion of current research that uses a psychological and empirical orientation to examine the micro-foundations of citizen and elite behavior. Our topics include but are not limited to identity, emotion, culture, beliefs, preferences (including public opinion and individual preferences), rationality, norms, cognition, group dynamics, ethnic politics, context effects, attribution, information, bargaining and trust. This is a methodologically plural forum open to faculty, graduate students, and other members of the academic community.
The working group meets approximately every other week on Fridays (see calendar). Discussion of the paper begin at 12:00 PM in the Center for Government and International Relations (CGIS) South, room S050 unless otherwise specified. Lunch will be served.