Social Norms

Definition

Social norms are the unwritten rules and expectations about how individuals should behave in a given social group or society. They guide behavior by providing standards for what is considered acceptable or unacceptable, influencing how people think, feel, and act in various situations. These norms can vary greatly between different cultures and contexts, shaping the cognitive processes that drive social interaction and individual decision-making.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Social norms can be classified as descriptive norms, which describe what most people do, and injunctive norms, which define what behaviors are typically approved or disapproved within a society.
2. People often conform to social norms to gain acceptance or avoid disapproval from others, which can significantly influence their cognitive evaluations of situations.
3. Norms can change over time and differ across cultures, leading to variations in behaviors and attitudes depending on the social context.
4. The violation of social norms can lead to social sanctions, such as ridicule or ostracism, which reinforces adherence to these unwritten rules.
5. Social norms play a critical role in shaping group dynamics, influencing how decisions are made within teams or communities based on shared expectations.

Review Questions

• How do social norms influence individual behavior and decision-making in group settings?
  • Social norms significantly impact individual behavior by establishing the standards for acceptable conduct within a group. Individuals often adjust their decisions to align with these norms to gain acceptance or avoid negative reactions. This influence can lead to conformity, where individuals adopt behaviors that reflect the group's expectations even if they personally disagree with them.
• Discuss the role of descriptive and injunctive norms in shaping societal behavior and attitudes.
  • Descriptive norms provide information about what most people do in a specific situation, while injunctive norms indicate what behaviors are approved or disapproved. Together, these norms shape societal behavior by guiding individuals on how to act based on perceived social expectations. For example, if a majority of people recycle (a descriptive norm), it encourages others to do the same because it is seen as the right thing to do (an injunctive norm).
• Evaluate the impact of changing social norms on cognitive processes related to conformity and dissent within a society.
  • Changing social norms can profoundly affect cognitive processes regarding conformity and dissent. As norms evolve, individuals must reassess their beliefs and behaviors in relation to new standards. This can lead to increased cognitive dissonance when personal values clash with prevailing norms, prompting individuals to either change their behavior to conform or reinforce their dissenting views. Such dynamics highlight how adaptable human cognition is in response to shifts in societal expectations.

Related terms

Conformity: The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms or societal expectations.

Social Influence: The ways in which individuals change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors based on the real or imagined presence of others.

Cognitive Dissonance: The mental discomfort experienced when an individual's beliefs or behaviors are inconsistent with social norms or each other.