The Effect of a Supreme Court Decision Regarding Gay Marriage on Social Norms and Personal Attitudes

@article{Tankard2017TheEO,
  title={The Effect of a Supreme Court Decision Regarding Gay Marriage on Social Norms and Personal Attitudes},
  author={Margaret E Tankard and Elizabeth Levy Paluck},
  journal={Psychological Science},
  year={2017},
  volume={28},
  pages={1334 - 1344}
}
We propose that institutions such as the U.S. Supreme Court can lead individuals to update their perceptions of social norms, in contrast to the mixed evidence on whether institutions shape individuals’ personal opinions. We studied reactions to the June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. In a controlled experimental setting, we found that a favorable ruling, when presented as likely, shifted perceived norms and personal attitudes toward increased support for gay… Expand
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