social norms
Expected public behavior
Social norms are the unwritten rules governing behavior in a group or society—expectations about how people should act, dress, speak, or interact in various situations.
They range from trivial conventions like facing forward in an elevator to serious prohibitions against violence.
Violating social norms invites disapproval, awkwardness, or punishment: He broke social norms by talking loudly during the ceremony.
Norms vary across cultures and shift over time.
Adherence to norms
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
stigma · punishment · peer pressure · socialization · internalization · groupthink · obedience · violation
Positions or functions held
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
- dutiesRequired tasks or charges
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- pressureForce upon contact
assumptions · stereotypes · gender roles · age-appropriate · family expectations · unspoken rules · appropriateness · acceptability
Traditional practices or import taxes
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
- moresBinding social standards
- folkwaysCustomary community behaviors
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
practices · taboos · values · beliefs · heritage · ceremonies · community · identity
Customs of polite conduct
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- decorumFitting social conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
protocol · civility · tact · respectability · formality · greetings · table manners · dress code
Study of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- justiceFair treatment under law
right and wrong · integrity · honor · decency · conscience · virtue · moral code · accountability
conformity
Adherence to norms
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
taboo · stigma · punishment · peer pressure · socialization · internalization · groupthink · obedience · violation · enforcement
roles
Positions or functions held
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
- dutiesRequired tasks or charges
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
pressure · assumptions · stereotypes · gender roles · age-appropriate · family expectations · unspoken rules · appropriateness · acceptability · judgment
customs
Traditional practices or import taxes
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
- moresBinding social standards
- folkwaysCustomary community behaviors
rituals · practices · taboos · values · beliefs · heritage · ceremonies · community · identity · ethos
manners
Customs of polite conduct
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- decorumFitting social conduct
propriety · protocol · civility · tact · respectability · formality · greetings · table manners · dress code · punctuality
ethics
Study of right conduct
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- principlesFoundational moral beliefs
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
justice · right and wrong · integrity · honor · decency · conscience · virtue · moral code · accountability · responsibility
- cultural trendstrends, fads, movements, cultural shifts, art movement
- common knowledgegeneral knowledge, trivia, common sense, proverbs, sayings
- cultural differenceslocal cuisine, dialect, slang, religious practices, holiday customs
- cultural historyart history, music history, cultural artifacts, cultural memory, cultural movements
- social developmentsocialization, friendship, belonging, sharing, turn-taking
- social sciencessociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, political science
social normslaws
Enforceable societal rules
legal codes · instincts · legislation · reflexes · government mandates
social normsdeviance
Departure from accepted standards
nonconformity · transgression · taboos · rebellion · antisocial behavior
social normsindividual autonomy
Power over own choices
idiosyncrasy · personal choice · raw instinct · personal values · free will
social, normal, society, sociable, abnormal, antisocial, norms, normality, normalize