Question: In Why People Obey the Law, Tom Tyler distinguishes between instrumental and normative perspectives on why people follow the law. Write an essay that a) explains the differences between instrumental and normative perspectives on why people follow the law

Expert answer

Instrumental and normative perspectives on why people follow the law can be distinguished in a number of ways. From an instrumental perspective, people follow the law because it is in their best interests to do so – either because they stand to gain something from doing so, or because they wish to avoid punishment. In contrast, from a normative perspective, people follow the law because they believe that it is the right thing to do – regardless of whether there are any personal benefits or consequences involved.

There are a number of reasons why someone might adopt an instrumental perspective on obeying the law. For instance, if a person believes that breaking the law will result in them being fined or imprisoned, then they are likely to obey the law in order to avoid these negative consequences. Similarly, if a person believes that obeying the law will result in them receiving some sort of reward (such as a financial incentive), then they are also likely to follow the law for instrumental reasons.

Normative perspectives on obeying the law, on the other hand, tend to focus on the moral or ethical aspects of following the rules and regulations set by society. From this perspective, people obey the law because they believe that it is the right thing to do – regardless of whether there are any personal benefits or consequences involved. For instance, someone might choose to obey speed limits on the roads even when there is no risk of being caught and punished, simply because they believe that it is morally wrong to break the law.

It is worth noting that both instrumental and normative perspectives on obeying the law are likely to play a role in any individual’s decision-making process. In most cases, people are likely to consider both the personal benefits and consequences of breaking the law, as well as the ethical implications of their actions, before deciding whether or not to follow the rules. However, the relative importance that each of these factors plays will vary from person to person.

In conclusion, while there are some clear differences between instrumental and normative perspectives on why people follow the law, it is important to remember that both of these perspectives can play a role in any individual’s decision-making process. Ultimately, the relative importance that each of these factors plays will depend on the individual in question.