Social norms are unwritten rules and expectations that guide behavior within a group or society. They represent shared standards of acceptable conduct. These informal understandings shape daily routines and decision-making, often without conscious thought. Norms are deeply ingrained in the social fabric, influencing everything from how people dress and speak to how they express emotions. This collective agreement establishes a foundational understanding.
Categories of Social Norms
Social norms can be categorized based on their level of importance and the severity of consequences for their violation.
Folkways
Folkways are customary behaviors that lack strong moral implications. Examples include shaking hands when meeting someone, waiting in line, or dressing appropriately for specific occasions. Violating a folkway results in mild disapproval or embarrassment. For instance, talking loudly on a phone in a restaurant might be seen as inappropriate but not a serious offense.
Mores
Mores are norms rooted in moral values and principles, dictating what is considered right or wrong within a society. They carry strong social repercussions if violated. Examples include honesty, refraining from stealing, or respecting elders. Breaking a more can lead to significant social disapproval, ostracism, or even legal consequences. Religious doctrines often serve as examples of mores.
Taboos
Taboos represent the most stringent category of social norms, involving behaviors that are strictly prohibited and evoke extreme disgust or revulsion. These are actions considered morally abhorrent within a culture. Incest, cannibalism, and necrophilia are examples almost universally condemned. Violating a taboo often results in severe social condemnation, expulsion from the group, or legal prosecution.
The Purpose of Norms in Society
Norms maintain social order and cohesion within a community. By defining acceptable behaviors, they reduce uncertainty and potential conflict in social interactions. This predictability allows individuals to anticipate how others will behave, fostering a sense of stability.
Shared expectations, established through norms, facilitate cooperation among individuals. They guide collective actions and promote behaviors that benefit the group as a whole. Norms related to reciprocity and promise-keeping are important for the smooth functioning of social groups.
Norms also play a role in transmitting cultural values and beliefs across generations. They encapsulate a society’s understanding of what is considered good and appropriate. Through their consistent application, norms help to preserve cultural traditions and identity.
How Norms Influence Our Actions
Social norms influence individual and collective behavior through conformity. Individuals often experience pressure to align their actions and beliefs with the prevailing norms of a group or society. This desire to fit in and be accepted can lead people to adopt behaviors that are widely practiced.
Socialization is how individuals learn and internalize these norms from a young age. Through observation, imitation, and feedback from family, educators, and peers, people acquire an understanding of what behaviors are expected. This shapes an individual’s self-concept and their understanding of how a “good person” behaves. By adulthood, many norms become second nature, guiding actions unconsciously.
The enforcement of social norms relies on social sanctions, which are reactions to behaviors deemed either appropriate or inappropriate. These can range from positive sanctions, such as praise or social inclusion for adherence, to negative sanctions, which are penalties for deviation. Negative sanctions can be informal, like a disapproving glance, criticism, or ostracism, or formal, such as fines or legal punishment. These reinforce expected behaviors and deter violations.