Traces of Cristina Bicchieri’s Normativity in Delia Owens’s “Where the Crawdads Sing”

Introduction
Norms and normativity are considered fundamental and deeply embedded infrastructures in every culture and social interaction. Norms serve as a framework that shapes human behavior within a social context; therefore, norms and normativity have long been significant social constructs for psychologists and sociologists. According to the Dehkhoda Encyclopedia Dictionary, the term "norm" has a Sanskrit origin and, linguistically, refers to a way, method, or routine practice that is performed or attributed to a specific context (Dehkhoda, 1998). Conversely, normativity is defined as the human tendency to adhere to certain rules or practices (Moein Dictionary, 2002).
To understand how norms and normativity function, the current study draws on the ideologies of Cristina Bicchieri, a contemporary philosopher and theorist widely regarded as a leader in research on behavioral values. This article employs Bicchieri's ideas to analyze values, biases, and the dynamics of social change. The study of human behavior aims to foster improvements in both culture and social structures. The impact of normativity on human life is examined through Bicchieri’s framework and applied to Delia Owens’ "Where the Crawdads Sing" to better comprehend the process of normativity in human society.
Owens’ protagonist, Kya, is used to illustrate what happens when a person chooses a different path and behavioral pattern from the rest of their society and how the other members respond to that difference. Bicchieri’s work helps explain the factors that lead society members to exclude Kya from their social circle and why such abandonment occurs within human social groups.
This study claims that by applying Cristina Bicchieri’s framework of norm adherence to Delia Owens’ novel "Where the Crawdads Sing," layers of Kya’s character that reveal visible traces of normativity and the effects of social norms in her life can be discovered. By the end of this article, it will be easier to recognize the significant influence of norms and normativity on human behavior and to identify their footprints in behavioral patterns more tangible way.

Materials and Methods

The present study is a descriptive-analytic research project based on library sources. Both printed and online books and articles have been used as sources of information to explore Delia Owens’ novel "Where the Crawdads Sing" in depth, guided by Cristina Bicchieri’s concepts. The study examines the notions of normativity and the formation of social norms by tracing these themes within the novel through an analysis of the behaviors and actions of the main character, Kya, as well as other supporting characters throughout the story. In addition to analyzing the influence of norms and normativity on Kya’s life, the study aims to demonstrate how norms and normativity can shape human thoughts and behaviors.
This article draws extensively on the works of Cristina Bicchieri, a leading scholar in the field. For example, her book "The Grammar of Society: The Nature and Dynamics of Social Norms" (2006) is used to explore how norms and normativity develop within social contexts. Additionally, her article "Norm-Nudging: Harnessing Social Expectations for Behavior Change" (2023) is employed to examine the consequences of deviating from social norms and how such deviations influence normativity. Other studies, such as Bredenbekk’s "Where the Crawdads Sing: An Investigation into Nature’s Role in Human Lives and Nature as a Metaphor to Critique Societal Structures" (2023), have contributed valuable insights into the relationship between social norms and individual development across different life stages.

Results and Discussion

Based on the findings of the study, Cristina Bicchieri reveals that norms (specially in a group of social basis), can affect how people think, decide, and behave. As Bicchieri explains, the survival of the norms is rooted in the repetition of them in a group of people. And as people continue behaving according to a certain norm, gradually it leads to a form of normativity. In Bicchieri's idea, it is a form of conditionalization that determines how people tend to follow a specific technique or practice. The continuation of normativity completely relies on how people regard and believe that certain norm. Although norms tend to change as time proceeds, it is essential to point out to the fact that an individual's life does not always continue and there's no guarantee that a person would be relieved from a type of normativity in her/his lifetime. The fact that Kya was removed from and cast out of her society simply because she did not conform to the social standards imposed on her from an early age, and that even as she grew up, she was repeatedly abandoned by those she loved due to her social status and unconventional lifestyle, serves as a clear and tangible example of how people's prejudices and societal norms can profoundly impact an individual's life.

Conclusion

To summarize the findings of this article, it is important to note that the present work aims to highlight the footprints and traces of normativity and norms in Delia Owens’ "Where the Crawdads Sing", based on the views and ideologies of contemporary philosopher, theorist, and thinker Cristina Bicchieri. Since a norm defines the methods, practices, and modes by which people tend to follow a certain way, normativity occurs when an individual (or a group of individuals) consciously or unconsciously shows an inclination toward following a specific norm. As Bicchieri illustrates throughout the present study, norms can condition individuals to follow certain rules and uphold normativity. Therefore, it would be considered odd, abominable, and unacceptable by members of the target society—who believe in, act upon, and adhere to a particular norm—for an individual not to conform to a widely institutionalized norm. Bicchieri’s examination reveals that the consequences for a norm-breaking individual can vary, ranging from mild to severe. To better understand this concept and explore its manifestations on social platforms, the current research analyzes the life of Kya, the protagonist in Delia Owens' novel. Kya is a character who prefers to distance herself from society. She disregards social norms and, living in an abandoned shack near the marshes of North Carolina, lacks a sense of familiarity with these rules. The residents of Barkley Cove, the town near Kya's shack, expel her due to their adherence to social norms and Kya’s inability to conform to them. Since societal normativity assigns value to individuals based on their behavior and beliefs in relation to these norms, it is clear that normativity plays a crucial role in the quality and well-being of individuals' lives within society. Therefore, according to Bechieri's standpoints, great care must be taken in fostering or not conforming a certain norm.