Chrissy Patterson BRDG014
Sociology Essay – Types of Social Norms
Social norms are the rules and regulations that societies live by, they are unwritten rules on how we should behave. The four types of social norms, folkways, mores, taboos and laws provide people with the expectations on how to behavior in an appropriate and acceptable way in society. Those who do not conform with the social norms are considered deviant and will face sanctions. We learn social norms right from the beginning of early childhood.
Folkways are the rules and expectations that we follow on a day-to-day basis of how we should act. However, folkways are not written down rules they are only enforced by social expectations. Folkways are behavior that is commonly assumed you will do, in other words the “should” of human behavior. There are no big consequences if folkways are broken or not followed. A sanction of breaking a folkway would be receiving criticism from society, particularly your family, you do not gain praise from breaking a folkway. People obey folkways because fear of social exclusion and not being accepted into society. An example of a folkway that is followed in western societies is shaking hands when meeting someone new. While it is not illegal if you do not shake someone’s hand, violation of this folkway would be considered rude by the other person.
Usually mores are determined by a society’s ethics, values and religious beliefs. Mores are strict rules that control the moral and social behavior of a person. Mores in society are strongly felt, even though mores are often not illegal they are usually adhered too. Similar to folkways, mores do not have written down rules but they are considered the “must” of human behavior. Breaking a more would result in a sanction of being disapproved and disowned by society, family and friends. Breaking a more is strictly frowned upon in society. An example of a more is cheating on y...
