Social Norms

These are standard rules or touchstones of a certain society or a group. These help in understanding what is acceptable and unacceptable in that society. They are maintained by group consensus and are maintained through group sanctions. Every society has its norms or what we call attitude, value beliefs and behavioral expectation which are not transgressed upon by its members. If people fail to follow these social norms, the society does not hesitate to excommunicate them or even punish them severely. It becomes customary or obligatory for the members of the groups to follow the established norms which make people a part of that society. These norms have come down from posterity or are evolved from time to time according to the situation. There are different norms to be followed by different age groups and by different classes of people in the society. Social norms could be all that is accepted and not accepted by the society and these may include behavior , dress code, interaction, mannerism, speech and the way to conduct oneself in public or at a gathering. People do maintain the social norms through non verbal communication and through body language. These would tell if the one is keeping to the norms or transgressing them. These basic principles that a society strongly adheres are not taught but caught by keen observance of members in the family and society. There are different types of norms-formal and informal. Violating the latter is has not bad consequences unlike the former which may lead to excommunication from the society. Besides, there are prescriptive norms which are expected codes of behavior that as everyone follows .Whereas, proscriptive norms are norms that are known by all which should not be followed. However, each society and culture has its social norms which are exclusive and unique.