Open defecation persists in India, despite rigorous efforts from the government, NGOs, and international organizations to suppress it. Although coverage of sanitation facilities has increased, use remains poor, especially in rural areas.
In countries without adequate access to improved sanitation, government-imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic can impact toilet usage. In India, where millions have recently transitioned to using a toilet, pandemic-related barriers to use might increase open defecation practices.
This essay investigates the relationships among scripts, schemata, and social norms. The authors examine how social norms are triggered by particular schemata and are grounded in scripts.
Where there is behavior there are social norms. Social norms are a key feature of societies, and their adherence is crucial to sustaining social order.
Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises.
Previous literature has demonstrated the important role that trust plays in developing and maintaining well-functioning societies. However, if we are to learn how to increase levels of trust in society, we must first understand why people choose to trust others.
In this work, we present a mathematical model for the emergence of descriptive norms, where the individual decision problem is formalized with the standard Bayesian belief revision machinery. Previous work on the emergence of descriptive norms has relied on heuristic modeling.
A Social Norms Manual produced for Zimbabwe and Swaziland as part of the UNICEF Office of Research’s Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children.
Access to improved toilets can enhance physical and mental security among women. Therefore, it becomes critical to incorporate and understand their decisions on household toilet construction.