Social Norming

Social Norming is built on the concept that most students engage in and want to engage in positive, healthy behaviors, but they believe their peers engage in negative, unhealthy behaviors.  As a result, many students do things they personally believe are wrong in order to gain acceptance by their peers.  Social Norming works by using “positive peer pressure” to educate students about what positive, healthy behaviors are truly acceptable by their peers.  These behaviors and beliefs about perceived norms of behavior among peers are determined through a school-wide survey conducted at the school. Our healthy relationship campaigns focus on the six types of abuse: physical, emotional, sexual, stalking, financial/economic, and digital. We also ask questions supporting protective factors such as,” I showed my partner respect and that I value them”, “it is each partner’s right to have friends outside of the relationship”, and “In the last year, have you spoken with an adult who encourages you?”.