Subjective Norm Rather Than Social Norm in the Induced-Hypocrisy Paradigm: A Test in the Context of School Bullying Victim Support

Abstract

The induced-hypocrisy paradigm is an effective two-step procedure—normative-salience step and then transgressions-salience step—for encouraging normative behaviors. In the context of promoting school bullying victim support among witnesses, this study tests whether the activation of a subjective norm rather than a social norm as traditionally practiced in the hypocrisy procedure can enhance the hypocrisy effect. Middle school students (N = 191) were assigned to either the control, social-norm-hypocrisy, or subjective-norm-hypocrisy conditions. Victim-defending intentions were measured immediately and one month later. The results showed a significant increase, ranging from control, then social-norm-hypocrisy, to subjective-norm-hypocrisy conditions, in students’ victim-defending intentions. These results extend the scope of induced hypocrisy and contribute to progress in investigating processes underlying the hypocrisy effect.