Who decides what’s “normal” and why? In an age with increasingly deteriorating social norms, here’s how to find true guidance.

Why do cultures develop social norms? They provide a general guidebook of how to behave in society, sometimes in an effort to help members of that culture live an easier life.

How do we evaluate if social norms are still valuable in this day and age? Investigation is the key to determining use. What was it originally for? Was it used as a method of protection? Is that use case still valuable right now?

With the dissolving of social norms, some are seeking guidance to inform how they live their lives. In the age of the self-described “expert,” there are coaches or guides for nearly every subject. But this can make for an overwhelming amount of options. Here’s how to know who to trust, according to author Christine Emba.

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About Christine Emba:

Christine Emba is an opinion columnist and editor at The Washington Post, where she focuses on ideas, society, and culture. She is also a contributing editor at Comment Magazine and an editor at large at Wisdom of Crowds, which includes a podcast and newsletter. Before this, Emba was the Hilton Kramer Fellow in Criticism at The New Criterion and a deputy editor at the Economist Intelligence Unit, focusing on technology and innovation. Her book, Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, is about the failures and potential of the sexual revolution in a post-#MeToo world. Emba was named one of the World’s Top 50 Thinkers by Prospect Magazine in 2022.

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