Norms and external sanctions

Elster posits that “norms do not need external sanctions to be effective,” because when “norms are internalized, they are followed even when violation would be unobserved and not exposed to sanctions.” Further, he cites that “shame” or “anticipation of it” are sufficient internal sanctions. The way in which social scientists understand norms has direct bearing on the functioning of institutions. The way in which societies utilize institutions and their “rules” either by law or custom, is largely dependent on the norms of the players who play or do not play by the “rules.”