Norms: Types and Acceptance Sociologists

Good afternoon, everybody. Today we’ll go on with our discussion about "Elements of Culture". We have talked about the element of language, which is viewed by sociologists as the foundation of every culture. Now let’s look at the second element--norms.    What are norms? Norms can be defined as the established standards of behaviour maintained by a society. Well, you know, all societies have ways of encouraging and enforcing what they view as appropriate behaviour while discouraging and punishing what they consider to be improper conducts. For example, respect for older people is a norm found in China. "Put on some clean clothes for dinner" is a norm followed in America. Bowing deeply to each other when meeting and saying good-bye to people is a norm practised in Japan. These are all norms.
   In order for a norm to become significant, it must be widely shared and understood. For example, when we go to the movies, we typically expect that people will be quiet while the film is showing. Because of this norm, if a member of the audience talks loudly, he may be asked to lower his voice. And when we go to school or go to work, we are expected to be punctual. If someone is late, he or she may feel uneasy and should say sorry to others.
   Now we’ll have a look at the types of norms. Sociologists distinguish norms in two ways. First, norms can be classified as formal and informal. Formal norms have generally been written down and involve strict rules for punishment of violators. Laws are an example of formal norms, because in a political sense, the law is the body of rules, made by government for society, interpreted by the courts, and backed by the state. Besides, the requirements for a college major and rules of a card game are also formal norms.
   By contrast, informal norms are generally understood but are not precisely recorded. Standards of proper dress are a common example of informal norms. Our society has no specific punishment or sanction if a student comes to college dressed quite differently from everyone else. The most likely response is that he or she might be made fun of by other students for his or her unusual choice of clothing.
   Second, norms are also classified by their relative importance to society. When classified this way, they are known as mores and folkways. Mores are norms that are regarded highly necessary to the welfare of a society, often because they embody the most valuable principles of a people. Each society demands obedience to its mores, and violation can lead to severe penalties. For example, our society has strong mores against murder and treason.
   Folkways are norms governing everyday behaviour whose violation raised relatively little concern. For example, walking up a "down" escalator in a department store challenges our standards of appropriate behaviour, but it will not result in a fine or a jail sentence. Folkways play an important role in shaping the daily behaviour of members of a culture.
   OK, how do people accept norms? Now we’ll talk about the acceptance of norms. First, norms, whether mores or folkways, are not followed in all situations. In some cases, people evade a norm because they know it is weakly enforced. For example, although smoking in public is forbidden, we often find people smoking in buses or other public places.
   Second, norms are violated in some instances because one norm conflicts with another. For example, suppose you live in an apartment building and one night you hear the screams of the woman next door. She is being beaten by her husband. If you decided to intervene by calling the police, you are violating the norm of "mind your own business" or "don’t interfere with other family’s business", while at the same time you are following the norm of assisting a victim of violence.
   Then, even when norms do not conflict, there are always exceptions to any norm. The same action, under different circumstances, can cause one to be viewed either as a hero or as a villain. For example, Eaves-drop- ping on telephone conversation is normally considered illegal or mean, but it can be done by the police to obtain valid evidence for a criminal trial. Even killing another human being is tolerated as a form of self-defence and is actually rewarded in warfare.
   Acceptance of norms is also subjected to change, as the political, economic, and social conditions of a culture is transformed. For example, under traditional norms, a woman was expected to marry, rear children, and remain at home if her husband could support the family. However, these norms have been changing in recent decades, and more and more women are ready to or encouraged to have her own career and support the family together with her husband. As support for traditional norms weakens, people will feel free to violate them more frequently and openly and will be less likely to receive serious negative sanctions for doing so.
   Well, time is almost up for today’s lecture. To sum up, norms are established standards of behaviour maintained by a society. They are distinguished in two ways, that is, formal or informal norms according to their formality, and mores and folkways according to their relative importance to society. People in a culture normally follow its norms, but acceptance of norms differs in different situations and social conditions. Next time we’ll go on with other elements of culture, sanctions and values. See you then.