23 Sep Social Norms

Conform or not conform?

Social norms are present to help facilitate order in society. The unwritten rules set an expectation of what behavior should be displayed in a social setting. When individuals don’t conform to norms, they are considered deviant. Individuals have different views of norms and they vary from culture to culture. Norms can also vary within a culture as well. There may be different behavioral expectations for adults, children, friends, etc.

Types of Norms

Norms can be categorized as mores, folkways, and law. Mores (pronounced more-ays) are sacred norms that an individual would never consider violating. For example, our views on abusing the elderly members of society. It would be unthinkable to engage in activities that would violate them. Folkways are norms that aren’t considered sacred and people usually conform to them automatically. Saying good morning to others would be an example. Last but not least, law is a written norm into a formal code by state officials. I’m pretty sure we have an idea of what those may consist of.

Cultural Norms

In some countries, parents make major life decisions for their children. They make decisions related to schools, careers, and spouses. The children are expected to obey and carry out the decisions made for them. American norms tend to be on the other end of the spectrum favoring individual choice. Parents feel as their children grow they should make their own life decisions and their role is to guide them as needed. No one should be forced into commitments that may not be fulfilling in the long run.

Sanctions

Sanctions are socially imposed rewards and punishments designed to encourage individuals to conform to norms. They are known to be formal or informal. Let’s take a look at formal sanctions; to start with they are official and may take the form of receiving passing or failing grades in school, a promotion or dismissal at work, and a honorable or dishonorable discharge from the military. The criminal justice system relies heavily on formal sanctions. If individuals are accused of breaking the law, they have to appear before a judge, who is responsible for deciding the next course of action.

Informal sanctions are unofficial checks on common everyday behavior. The sanctions could be in the form of gossip, giving someone a look to express approval or disapproval, or possibly some form of shaming. Usually, the perceived threat of the sanctions are enough to keep individuals in line.

Wrap Up

All in all, violating a norm isn’t a crime but morally individuals feel better when they do the right thing. Norms and sanctions set the boundaries for acceptable social behavior. Therefore, you know what to expect in most instances. As we discussed, it can vary from culture to culture and also within a culture. Overall, society functions better when everyone is alignment with the established norms. There are hiccups from time to time which is to be expected with such a diverse population. However, some norms may be outdated and need to be revisited.