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Essay / Norms and Social Norms - 967
A norm is the expectation of correct behavior. There are also customs, morals, values and sanctions. A tradition is made up of norms that are not strictly enforced. Mores are norms strictly enforced because they are considered essential to the fundamental values or well-being of the group. Sanctions are either expressions of approval given to people for meeting norms or expressions of disapproval for violating them. Values are the standards by which people define what is desirable or undesirable, good or bad, beautiful or ugly. Norms are essentially about everyday behaviors and how people act. Everyone experiences norm violations or commits a norm violation. Standards are part of everyday life. Each standard may be different depending on your values. When we learn values, we learn what is good or bad, pretty or ugly. Values motivate how we act, what we learn, guide the choices we make and what we maintain in life. Each group develops perspectives on the proper way to reflect their values. Popular traditions are norms that are not strictly enforced. We expect people to follow traditions, but once one is broken, we make a big deal about it and forget about it a few minutes later. Morals are taken much more seriously. Usually, a person who steals, rapes, or kills has violated some of the very important morals of the community. Usually, the traditions of one group may be the mores of another group. A taboo is a violation of a norm so strong that it carries extreme penalties for violation. An example of a taboo would be incest. When a person breaks a taboo, they are generally deemed unfit to live in the same community as others. To me, a taboo is like breaking the law and you can get in serious trouble. For my violation of norms, I invaded people's personal space. I went to the market on a Friday evening (one of the busiest nights) and sat next to people. I chose this violation of the norm because people did it to me and I found it funny but I wanted to know how everyone else would react differently. Invading a person's personal life violates a norm because it can make people very uncomfortable in many ways. Some, if not most, people might be offended. Some people would agree and continue what they were doing before I even arrived. I also observed a standard. I was at a restaurant and this adult was eating everything with his hands. I think it was a violation of norms because we learn to eat with utensils and not with our hands. In my opinion it was very disgusting. If it was an appetizer or ribs, then ok, that would be normal, but he was eating salad with his hands. It was very complicated and not good. The community has norms because of the different groups each encounters. Norms are once again part of everyone's way of life. Everyone has different standards or a different way of acting. Norms are important because they shape the way people are today and how we act. People's life values should be learned from other people so as not to violate a norm or say anything offensive to hurt others. Sanctions are normal. Everyone reacts in different ways to different things. For example when I invaded people's personal space. Some people got up and left while others just said hello and ma