Changing Social Norms

Information from the 2019 Minnesota School Survey (MSS) shows that there is a misconception between students believing that many of their peers are vaping regularly. These misconceptions perpetuate the amount of Forest Lake students who vape. Look at the difference between students who report actually vaping compared to the perception of peers who vape.

Table 1: http://sumn.org/

Dr. Jeffery Linkenbach, the founder of Positive Community Norms, puts it well, “ We are social beings who look for cues in our environments about how to think, act, and belog.” If youth believe that most of their peers vape daily, they will be more likely to engage in this behavior.

Correcting misperceptions can lead to individuals making healthier choices. This is evident in

the 2019 MSS data which shows that students who believe MOST students do not vape

monthly or more often are 6.5 times less likely to vape than those students who think MOST

students vape monthly or more often. As misperceptions are corrected, positive community

change can occur.

Changing perceptions of social norms is a goal of SPEAC. Through positive messages that

remind students that most students at Forest Lake do not vape coupled with continuous

education of the harmful effects of nicotine, the gaps between perception and reality can be

closed. Changing the perception of social norms can be a community effort done at home,

school, and in the community.

For more information about Positive Community Norms, check out The Montata Institute which is run by Dr. Jeffery Linkenback and is the foundation for SPEAC.

By Kayla Baker

Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator

MN Metro - Region 7

www.rpcmn.org

References:

1. Linkenbach, J.: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Promoting Positive

Community Norms. Retrieved From: https://www.montanainstitute.com/publications

2. Minnesota Department of Education (2018). Minnesota School Survey Reports 2013 -

2019. Retrieved from:

https://public.education.mn.gov/MDEAnalytics/DataTopic.jsp?TOPICID=242