Preventing Gun Violence by Changing Social Norms

Preventing Gun Violence by Changing Social NormsFrom a public health perspective, some social norms are beneficial (eg, washing your hands), while others are less so (eg, shaking hands, which may spread germs).Social norms can encourage or discourage violence.For example, traditional norms that men have a right to control women and that sexual violence is a private affair increase the likelihood of intimate partner violence.Social norms that encourage violence can be changed.