Dr. Cristina Bicchieri was featured on the Scaling Theory podcast. The episode explored how social norms emerge, scale, and sometimes collapse, drawing on her influential work in norm formation and collective behavior. What exactly drives a norm to spread across a population—or fail to move beyond a small group? Dr. Bicchieri discussed tipping signals, self-reinforcing equilibria, and the mechanisms that determine whether a norm becomes stable or disappears.
She also walked through the field experiments that have shaped her research, highlighting the patterns she has observed across different contexts. The conversation shed light on how norms and legal rules evolve together, offering a fresh perspective on the forces that structure and constrain human behavior. The episode further examined the challenges that arise when behaviors on digital platforms and AI ecosystems evolve faster than regulation. Finally, Dr. Bicchieri offered practical guidance for policymakers and firms seeking to design effective interventions grounded in norm theory.