Every culture has its own unwritten rules, but the degree to which they are enforced varies widely. New research divides societies into "tight" (strict, rigorously enforced rules) and "loose" (more laissez-faire) categories rather than the 1960s model of six factors (individualism, power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence).
It is thought that the tight and loose difference underpins all sorts of other factors, from creativity to divorce rates and that there is an explanation of why nations differ and how to influence social norms.
Tightness is determined by the level of external threat to which a society was exposed historically, whether ecological (e.g. earthquakes, scarce natural resources) or human-made (e.g. war). Tightness is about coordination - strong rules are needed for survival.
An international study in 33 nations by 43 institutions worldwide surveyed the attitudes of 7,000 people. The team also calculated national averages for tightness and compared these with natural disasters, exposure to pathogens, territorial conflict, lack of access to clean water and high population density, finding a correlation. Societies facing a high level of threat (e.g. Pakistan, Malaysia) regulated social behaviour more and punished deviance more than loose societies.
The team also found that tight societies tend to be more autocratic, with greater media censorship and fewer collective actions such as demonstrations, are more conformist and religious, have more police, lower crime and divorce rates and cleaner public spaces. Even stock markets are more synchronised.
A later study across 50 US states found a correlation between tightness on legality of same-sex marriage, percentage of foreign born residents, and strength of religious institutions with threats such as tornado risk and exposure to hazardous waste. Tighter states had lower rates of drug abuse and homelessness and happiness but higher rates of incarceration and discrimination.
The links may be complex. External threats may encourage marriage within a group but could ultimately produce its own threat as a result of inbreeding. Views on abortion, homosexuality and euthanasia (basic concerns about survival and reproduction) are heavily shaped by culture. Views on honesty and respect for the law influenced more by individual beliefs.
Upping external threats pushes a group to enforce its norms more strictly, lowering it does the opposite. Populist leaders direct their messages at groups who feel threatened and some exaggerate the the real threat. Too much looseness may also produce a backlash - e.g. where people feel there is no security or infrastructure. Simply understanding why societies differ in this way could help global harmony.
On a range of measures (including health, wealth, happiness and political stability), moderate cultures came out best.
In order from tightest to loosest: Very tight: Pakistan, Malaysia, India, Singapore. Less tight: South Korea, Norway, Turkey, Japan, China, Portugal, Germany (East), Mexico. More Loose: UK, Italy, Austria, Germany (West), Iceland, Hong Kong, France, Poland, Belgium, Spain, US, Australia. Most Loose: New Zealand, Greece, Venezuela, Brazil, Netherlands, Israel, Hungary, Estonia, Ukraine.
Source: Article Culture Clash: why are some societies strict and others laissez-faire by Laura Spinney in New Scientist, 7th April 2018
