ABSTRACT
C onsider the vast array of social forces that guide behavior. In modern soci-eties, these include but are not limited to formal social institutions and bureaucratic agencies (e.g., criminal justice systems, religious organizations, colleges and universities), informal social norms (of politeness, reciprocity, honesty, etc.), and the real or imagined individuals who act as meaningful referent
Four Hypotheses and Two Corollaries 274 Societal Dynamics 277
Punishment and Conformity 277 Reward and Uniqueness 280
The Stable Society 282 Reference Status 282 Balancing Rewards and Punishments 283 A Drift to Morality: Incentives and Barriers 284
Notes 285 References 286
others (e.g., parents, peers, gods). Each of these can be viewed as an “inuence system” or “agent of inuence” that introduces regulatory standards. These standards might then be internalized by the individuals who are targeted, shaping how they later act across a wide range of situations.
