The theme of the upcoming SoFA Intentional Communities conference in November—Bringing Our Best Selves To The Whole—points to a vital component of healthy community: socially skilled members. A less understood aspect of “our best selves” are the cultural norms we internalize in whatever social context we grew up in and our current cultural milieu.
“Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: Tight And Loose Cultures And The Secret Signals That Direct Our Lives” by Michelle Gelfand PhD, an academic research psychologist, offers up sound evidence that culture—that vast, immersive symbolic sea every group at all scales of human existence swim in—shapes the degree to which rules—or cultural expectations—are followed—or not. She refers to these unseen influences as “cultural norms”.
Sociocracy requires certain guidelines, or structural imperatives, to effectively decentralize decision-making power while maintaining cultural coherency. These structural imperatives are not rigid rules, but essential components within a defined distribution of power that are linked to healthy organizational relationships and effectiveness.
Ideally, power is distributed within sociocratic self-governance systems so that “top-down” control and “bottom-up” influence are balanced and group members experience “power-with” one another, while honoring whole group values and “getting the work done”.
Gelfand’s research indicates that, around the world, cultures tend to form tighter cultural expectations—or norms-- regarding rule enforcement when experiencing some form of threat—drought, hostile relationships with other groups, and food insecurity, to name a few—as compliance with tight cultural norms that are strictly enforced can help ensure group survival, although often at individual member expense.
Social groups that do not face intense existential threats are able to evolve greater flexibility, tolerance for diversity, increased personal autonomy and cultural creativity in shaping their norms. The research Gelfand has conducted and cites proves this tendency over and over again.
Intentional communities often fall into the progressive/liberal “loose” end of cultural norm continuums, valuing tolerance for diversity, creativity and a degree of autonomy for all members, which often means they do not strictly emphasize the enforcement of “rules”, yet sociocracy itself requires normative commitment to upholding specific, yet flexible structural, procedural and ethical guidelines.
Sociocracy is not “tight” or “loose”—norms regarding whether or how to follow its guidelines can range from tight to loose and the practice of norm enforcement reflects underlying cultural values.
How is your community weaving positive and flexible cultural norms related to sociocracy into collaborative and effective functioning that allow your members’ “best selves” to emerge while maintaining essential structural guidelines?
Do your community’s cultural norms ensure that “bottom-up” feedback is consistently heard and integrated through open, respectful processes, for example? Gelfand’s research indicates too little structure is just as harmful as too much. Her research demonstrates that lax enforcement of generally accepted (and needed) rules or guidelines diminishes trust and cooperation over time. The “Goldilock’s Principle” of “just right”, balanced norms produces healthy, cooperative and functional communities.
Historically, powerful “top-down” governance has dominated cultural responses to threat. Without detailing the numerous and—at times—overwhelming sources of threat humanity currently faces, it’s worth noting that, with increasing frequency, small sociocratic groups acting at the local level are recognizing that they have power to direct the conditions of their shared lives towards more positive outcomes that can counter global trends, but only if they do so by enforcing norms that uplift the motivation, skills and commitment of every member’s “best selves” by balancing “top-down” and “bottom-up” cultural engagement.
Community norms that do not feel too tight or too loose, but “just right” when it comes to maintaining sociocracy’s essential guidelines can foster personal autonomy, creativity, and tolerance for diversity within a culture of cooperation that allows your members’ best selves to grow and thrive.
Written by Kathleen Walsh, member of SoFA’s Intentional Communities Circle
What does this article get you thinking about? What influences your community’s norms?