Importance Of Social Norms

Social norms are the fundamental building blocks of sociology. According to the social science, norms are the implied or openly stated rules of any given group or society. Individuals learn norms from those around them and/or from larger societal influences, such as one’s parents and family, or television commercials. There are different types of norms that fulfill different needs or affect individuals or groups in different ways. These include folkways, mores, values and sanctions. Folkways are societal traditions that enforce convenience and efficiency in a group. They are essentially organizational in nature, lining up people in a larger machine and allowing a maximization of activity. Something as simple as waiting in a line at a fast food restaurant or as complicated as dressing appropriately for specific occasions can both be considered folkways. These traditions create a distinction between rude and polite behavior, and provide black and white guidelines for how people should act in a usually public setting. Mores differ from folkways in that they are generally approached with more reverence and gravitas. Where folkways are a basic set of rules and suggestions, mores are what is considered moral and ethical by a given society. Whereas violating a folkway could get an individual some sideways glances or mild …show more content…
Some rules are not worth legislating on, like don’t cut in line at a restaurant, or don’t stand too close to people. But these things are still important for the day to day lives of all individuals in any society. Outside of this, norms are significant in the sense that they have a very profound impact on people’s lives as well. Norms can dictate and govern the ways that people behave, interpret reality, interact with each other or even perceive themselves. All of this is integral to the human