social obligation
Owed communal participation
A social obligation is something you feel compelled to do because of social expectations rather than personal desire or legal requirement.
Attending a coworker's retirement party, sending thank-you notes, or visiting relatives during holidays often fall into this category.
I went to the wedding out of social obligation, not because I wanted to.
The phrase usually carries a note of reluctance—genuine enthusiasm wouldn't need the qualifier.
- dutyRequired moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- unwritten ruleImplicit behavioral expectation
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
favor · reciprocity · return the favor · expectation · commitment · manners · politeness · custom · tradition · wedding · baby shower · funeral · paying respects · invitation · plus one · RSVP · gift · thank-you
social obligationfree choice
Unrestricted decision-making power
personal freedom · voluntary action · intrinsic motivation · autonomy · optionality
social obligationpersonal autonomy
Control over one's choices
individualism · self-reliance · nonconformity · hermitage · opting out
social, society, societal, socialize, socialization, sociable, sociability, socially, antisocial