Theory Database - Theory 18: Focus Theory of Normative Conduct

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Number of Constructs: 8
Number of Triples: 8

Norms influences Behaviour
Norm focus influences the 'Norms' to 'Behaviour' Influences relationship
Intention influences Behaviour
Norm focus influences the 'Injunctive norms' to 'Intention' Influences relationship
Injunctive norms influences Intention
Provincial norms type of Norms
Descriptive norms type of Norms
Injunctive norms type of Norms

Norms [ BCIO:006039 (perceived norm) 18 66 77 12 80 71 10 78 ]
Behaviour [ BCIO:036000 (individual human behaviour) 18 70 8 5 14 62 63 64 78 81 65 77 13 55 74 79 24 53 54 57 69 71 ]
Norm focus The degree to which attention is attracted to or focused on a norm at any given moment [ BCIO:050571 (Attending to a social norm) 18 ]
Intention [ BCIO:006016 (behavioural intention) 18 1 66 14 59 73 72 23 77 69 52 81 74 79 80 3 24 ]
Injunctive norms What is perceived as typically approved or disapproved of within a culture; the perceived moral rules of a group [ BCIO:006041 (perceived evaluative behavioural norm) 18 66 78 28 79 ]
Provincial norms A sub-type of norms about what is perceived as typically done or 'normal' in a specific environment [ BCIO:006039 (perceived norm) 18 66 77 12 80 71 10 78 ]
Descriptive norms What is perceived as typically done; what is perceived as 'normal' within a culture

Cialdini, R.B., Kallgren, C.A. & Reno, R.R. (1991). A Focus Theory of Normative Conduct: A Theoretical Refinement and Reevaluation of the Role of Norms in Human Behaviour. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 24, 201-234.
Cialdini, R.B. (2012). The focus theory of normative conduct. In P. Van Lange, A. Kruglanski, & E. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of theories of social psychology (pp. 295-313). SAGE Publications.