On 14 May, 2026, a new article has been published by Eszter Vit, Eliza Bodor-Eranus, Béla Janky, Zsuzsanna Szvetelszky, Beáta Lázár and Károly Takács in Rationality and Society. The title of the article is “Social networks and the emergence of informal norms and metanorms in transient working groups”.

Abstract:

While social norms and metanorms supporting sanctions are essential for norm compliance, their emergence in temporary settings, where long-term repeated interactions and reputational incentives are absent, remains poorly understood. This study analyzes survey, social network (N = 421), and interview (N = 65) data collected from volunteers at three Hungarian music festivals to explore the relationship between sanctioning support and social networks in these transient organizations. The findings show that a clear sanctioning hierarchy can emerge even in such temporary settings. Support for sanctions was strongest for violations that caused immediate operational disruption or direct harm, but far weaker for violations consistent with the festival’s informal, permissive atmosphere. Informal peer regulation mitigated the need for formal sanctions, particularly for lateness, a frequent violation. Different measures of network centrality were associated with distinct sanctioning attitudes: individuals in bridging positions showed stronger support for sanctions, especially for violations that posed a threat to group cohesion, whereas well-connected volunteers showed no consistent support for sanctions. This suggests that in temporary settings, some socially active and central individuals may favor short-term social harmony over the group’s cooperative interests. These findings demonstrate that social control mechanisms are not confined to stable environments but can also emerge in transient settings.

 

The article is available here:

https://doi.org/10.1177/10434631261447106

https://doi.org/10.1177/10434631261447106