Somebody do something: coexisting with social transgression on the metro

Abstract

Several factors decrease metro riders’ satisfaction, well-being, andwillingness to use the metro. However, little attention has focusedon the problems caused by social transgression and uncivilizedbehavior. Hence, the objectives of this study were to analyze theimpact of norm transgression and uncivil behavior on coexistenceamong passengers and the emotional climate on the metro and toassess the social control exerted by passengers. We also exploredwhether the perception of social control changed during theCOVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 357 passengersof the Buenos Aires metro. An online self-administered question-naire was designed to collect the data. Path analysis results showedthat beliefs about norms and the ease with which passengers breakthe norm of silence promote active social control. In contrast, thedifficulty of breaking the norm of silence and the perception ofpublic alienation lead to inactive social control.