RULES FOR BREAKING FORMAL RULES - SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS AND EVERYDAYRULE-GOVERNED BEHAVIOR

Citation
M. Verkuyten et al., RULES FOR BREAKING FORMAL RULES - SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS AND EVERYDAYRULE-GOVERNED BEHAVIOR, The Journal of psychology, 128(5), 1994, pp. 485-497
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00223980
Volume
128
Issue
5
Year of publication
1994
Pages
485 - 497
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3980(1994)128:5<485:RFBFR->2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
In this study, we explored the usefulness of the concept of social rep resentations developed in European social psychology for studying beli efs about when certain rule-breaking behaviors are considered justifie d. The relationship between formal rules and human conduct is traditio nally studied from an individualistic perspective; however, we argue t hat more attention must be paid to the socially shared nature of knowl edge and understanding. This approach is illustrated by the idea of ru les for breaking legal rules. Empirically, we investigated under what conditions law students in the Netherlands found it acceptable to run a red traffic light and to evade taxes. The results suggest that there are socially shared beliefs and understandings about when it is consi dered acceptable to break specific rules.