Strict norms and the religious commitment of American Jews: A reinterpretation of the strictness thesis

Abstract

This paper focuses on the strict norms one encounters primarily in conservative religious groups. Such precepts regulate the behavior of their members, distinguishing them from the social environment. There is a view that strict norms resolve the “free-rider problem” and foster more profound commitment of the believers. It seems, however, that such stricture is part of a more universal mechanism, which is involved in the process of social categorization. The norms establish a clear division between “us” and “others,” enhancing the bond with the group. Attempt has been made to verify this conjecture based on the data from a survey by the Pew Research Center concerned with American Jews.