On This Page:ToggleEveryday NormsCultural NormsStudentsGenderFamilyWorkDining OutUsing Your PhoneWhile DrivingMeeting A New PersonFriends
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Norms are implicit (unwritten) social rules which define what is expected of individuals in certain situations. They are measures of what is seen as normal in society, and govern the acceptable behavior in society (societal standards).
Norms operate at several levels, from regulations concerning etiquette at the table to moral norms relating to the prior discharging of duties (see values).
Social norms vary from culture to culture, and can be specific to a particular group or situation. Some social norms are explicit, such as laws or religious teachings, while others are more implicit, such as etiquette.
Social norms word concepts banner. Community culture rules. Infographics with linear icons on green background. Isolated creative typography
Everyday social convention Norms
The following are some common social norms that people in the US and UK follow daily (Hechter & Opp, 2001):
Shaking hands when greeting someone
Saying “please” and “thank you”
Apologizing when one makes a mistake
Standing up when someone enters the room
Making eye contact during a conversation
Listening when someone is speaking
Offering help when someone is struggling
Respecting personal space
Accepting others” opinions even if we don’t agree with them
Being on time
Dressing appropriately for the occasion-
Thanking someone for a gift
Paying attention to personal hygiene
Speaking quietly in public and formal places
Clearing one”s dishes from the table after a meal at one’s own home, or at one of a friend or stranger
Not interrupting when someone else is speaking
Asking before borrowing something that belongs to someone else
Walking on the right side of a hallway or sidewalk
Saying “bless you” or “gesundheit” after someone sneezes
-Standing in line and not cutting in front of others
Yielding to pedestrians when driving
Hanging up one’s coat when entering someone else’s home
Taking off one”s shoes when entering someone else”s home (if this is the custom)
Not talking with food in one’s mouth
Chewing with one’s mouth closed
Not staring at others
Cultural Norms
Social norms vary widely across cultures and contexts (Reno et al., 1993).
Social Norms For Students
School teaches children respect for authority, structure, and tolerance. The social norms expected of students follow suit (Hechter & Opp, 2001):
Being respectful to teachers
Listening in class
Handing in homework on time
Not talking when others are talking
Taking turns
Include everyone in activities
Playing fairly
Encouraging others
Trying one”s best
Respecting property and equipment
Being a good listener
Accepting differences among people
Some social norms that are generally followed while taking exams include:
Gender Social Norms
Some social norms that are associated with being a woman include (Moi, 2001):
Some social norms that are associated with being a man include (Moi, 2001):
Some social norms that are associated with being transgender or gender non-conforming include:
Social Norms With Family
Young (2007) outlined numerous social norms pertaining to family, such as:
Social Norms At Work
Social norms at work are similar to those enforced at school (Hechter & Opp, 2001):
Coming to work on time
Dressing appropriately for the job
Putting in a full day”s work
Not calling in sick unnecessarily
Not taking extended lunches or coffee breaks
Not spending excessive time chatting with co-workers – Completing assigned tasks
Being a team player
Respecting others” opinions
Listening to and considering others” suggestions
Being an active participant in meetings
Completing assigned tasks on time
Respecting the decisions of the group even if you don’t agree with them
Social Norms While Dining Out
Some social norms that are typically followed while dining out include (Hechter & Opp, 2001):
Using Your Phone
Social norms surrounding using phones include (Carter et al., 2014):
Social Norms While Driving
Although often broken, there are expectations surrounding one”s behavior on the road (Carter et al., 2014), such as:
Social Norms When Meeting A New Person
In general, some social norms that are typically followed when interacting with others include (Hechter & Opp, 2001):
Social Norms With Friends
In general, close confidants follow a more relaxed set of social norms than acquaintances and strangers. Nonetheless, there are still expectations as to what constitutes a friend in many Western cultures, including (Young, 2007):
Moresare the regulator of social life, while norms are the very specific rules and expectations that govern the behavior of individuals in a community. Mores are a subset of norms, representing the morality and character of a group or community.
Generally, they are considered to be absolutely right. On the other hand, norms can involve customs and expected behaviors that are more flexible and can change over time.
They usually deal with day-to-day behavior and are not as deeply ingrained as mores. While the violation of a norm may be uncomfortable, the violation of a more is usually socially unacceptable.
Moresare beliefs that we have about what is important, both to us and to society as a whole. A value, therefore, is a belief (right or wrong) about the way something should be.
While norms are specific rules dictating how people should act in a particular situation, values are general ideas that support the norm”.
References
Berkowitz, A. D. (2005). An overview of the social norms approach. Changing the culture of college drinking:A socially situated health communication campaign, 1,193-214.
Bicchieri, C. (2011).Social Norms. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Carter, P. M., Bingham, C. R., Zakrajsek, J. S., Shope, J. T., & Sayer, T. B. (2014). Social norms and risk perception: Predictors of distracted driving behavior among novice adolescent drivers.Journal of Adolescent Health, 54(5), S32-S41.
Chung, A., & Rimal, R. N. (2016).Social norms: A review.Review of Communication Research, 4,1-28.
Hechter, M., & Opp, K. D. (Eds.). (2001).Social norms.
Lapinski, M. K., & Rimal, R. N. (2005).An explication of social norms.Communication theory, 15(2), 127-147.
Moi, T. (2001).What is a woman?: and other essays.Oxford University Press on Demand.
Reno, R. R., Cialdini, R. B., & Kallgren, C. A. (1993). The transsituational influence of social norms.Journal of Personality and social psychology, 64(1), 104.
Sunstein, C. R. (1996).Social norms and social roles. Colum. L.Rev., 96,903.
Young, H. P. (2007).Social Norms.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Charlotte NickersonResearch Assistant at Harvard UniversityUndergraduate at Harvard UniversityCharlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.
Charlotte NickersonResearch Assistant at Harvard UniversityUndergraduate at Harvard University
Charlotte Nickerson
Research Assistant at Harvard University
Undergraduate at Harvard University
Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.
