The social dynamics of breaking the rules: antecedents and consequences of norm-violating behavior

• We review research on the antecedents and consequences of norm-violating behavior.
• Individual antecedents of violations include power, status, and disrespect for rules.
• Social antecedents include the local normative climate and the behavior of peers.
• Intrapersonal effects of transgressions include feelings of guilt and shame.
• Interpersonal effects include anger, derogation, sanctioning, and status conferral.

Norms uphold the social order by guiding behavior without the force of laws. Accordingly, behaviors that violate norms pose a potential threat to societies. We review research on the antecedents and consequences of norm-violating behavior. Regarding antecedents, we distinguish between individual-level factors such as power and (lack of) respect for norms, and social factors such as the behavior of relevant others. Regarding consequences, we identify intrapersonal effects of norm violations on the transgressor, including feelings of guilt and shame, and interpersonal effects of norm violations on others, including neurophysiological responses, affective reactions, social judgments, and behavioral tendencies (e.g., sanctioning, status conferral). We discuss the possibility of self-perpetuating versus self-defeating norm-violation cycles and outline a theoretical framework to guide future research.