- Norms are social expectations that guide behaviour i.e., socially acceptable ways of behaviour are called norms.
- Norms are generally informal guidelines of a particular group or community about right or wrong social behaviour.
- They are a form of collective expectations of community members from each other.
- Norms are a form of social control or social pressure on individuals to conform, induce uniformity and check deviant behaviour.
- They are expressed through social customs, folkways or mores.
- Norms provide order in a society. E.g. in a traditional society, it is a norm that a son must obey his father’s command and fulfil his wishes.
- Non-conforming to norms attracts punishment. Punishment may be in the form of being looked down upon, derision, scolding, boycotting, imposing penance, etc.
- Laws are a later stage of the evolution of norms, where the society has codified the terms of expected and unexpected behaviour from its members. Those who are deviant are tried in a court of law and punished accordingly.
- It is important to note that for an individual, norms are imposed externally whereas beliefs and values are internal. Norms are a specific guide to behaviour whereas values provide indirect guidance only.
- Principles
- Values, beliefs, and morality vary from individual to individual. Ethics may also differ in different communities and cultures. However, Principles are rules or laws that are universal in nature. Principles are about universal truths and standards such as fairness, truthfulness, equality, justice etc
