The Hidden Curriculum: Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations

The world around us is a complicated place filled with expectations, rules, assumptions, guidelines, regulations, and policies. This “hidden curriculum” exists across environments, places, people, and cultures. Although rules and mandates can be complex, most of us take comfort in them—often unconsciously—because they help us to know what to do in everyday situations.

We like rules if they are consistent. It is when they are unclear, or are unstated that we can...