Our society has been molded by norms for many centuries and the average population follow them because it is the “right” thing to do. In Sociology in Modules, by Schaefer, it states folkways of our world are defined as “standards of behavior maintained by a society” (66 par.1). Some specific norms are called formal norms, informal norms, and folkways. Schaefer also says how our formal norms are “written down and specify strict punishments”, while informal norms are “understood but not…written” (68 par.1-2). Then there are the norms called folkways which control our daily behaviors. We rely on these social norms because we think it is the only way society will accept us. So, many individuals do not dare to think out of the bubble and do not try to be something that is different. In, Sociology in Modules, the author, Richard Schaefer, gives some examples on why people do not override these norms and one reason is that “violation can lead to severe penalties” (68 par.3). There are some norms that us humans do violate but we will not get punished for it just odd glances. However, that reason can cause us to turn away from breaking that norm because we do not want that type of judgment. In some ways these norms act like a type of social control.
