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Reading Social Norms Sociology Skip to main content Module Culture and Society Search for So far the examples in this chapter have often described how people are expected behave certain situations example when buying food or boarding a bus These describe visible invisible rules of conduct through which societies structured what sociologists call norms define accordance with society has defined as good right important most members adhere them Formal established written They behaviors worked out agreed upon order suit serve Laws formal but so employee manuals college entrance exam requirements no running signs at swimming pools specific clearly stated various types they strictly enforced But even varying degrees reflected cultural values For money is highly valued United States monetary crimes punished It s against law rob bank banks go great lengths prevent such People safeguard valuable possessions install antitheft devices protect homes cars A less social norm driving while intoxicated While it drive drunk drinking part an acceptable behavior And though there laws punish few systems place crime show range enforcement There plenty list informal casual that generally widely conformed longer learn by observation imitation general socialization Some taught directly Kiss your Aunt Edna Use napkin others learned including observations consequences someone else violates although personal interactions extend into other well In regarding fast restaurants Customers line up their leave done don t sit down table strangers sing loudly prepare condiments nap booth Most commit benign breaches Informal dictate appropriate without need Breaching Experiments Sociologist Harold Garfinkel studied customs find societal not only influenced also shaped He believed together create Weber His resulting book Studies Ethnomethodology published discusses assumptions about makeup communities One research methods was known breaching experiment researcher behaves socially awkward manner test sociological concepts conformity The participants aware progress If breach successful however these innocent bystanders will respond some way if experimenter say man business he skips sidewalk hops on one foot passersby likely stare him surprised expressions faces does simply act weird public Rather point deviate from small subtly break form etiquette see happens To his ethnomethodology deliberately imposed strange unknowing Then observed responses suspected odd would shatter conventional expectations wasn sure set simple game tic-tac-toe player asked beforehand mark Xs Os boxes lines dividing spaces instead dark study flabbergasted did know continue second reactions outrage anger puzzlement emotions illustrated existence constitute life play role let us around each feel comfortable our community many speaking OK tell woman you like her shoes ask can try stand behind ATM look over shoulder makes transaction beside crowded stranger half-empty engages An might strike conversation bathroom where common respect privacy fiercely ignore presence grocery store take item another person cart saying That looks I think ll restaurant follow museum same paintings those cases pressured discomfort illustrates much we depend experiments uncover explore unwritten live may be further classified either mores folkways Mores mor-ays embody moral views principles group Violating serious strongest legally protected instance murder considered immoral punishable more judged guarded sentiment who violate seen shameful shunned banned groups U S school system require student writing own words use special forms quotation marks whole citation crediting writers Writing name plagiarism violating severe usually result expulsion Unlike any underpinnings direct day-to-day practices culture indicate whether shake hands kiss cheek greeting specify wear tie blazer T-shirt sandals event Canada women smile hello men street Egypt regions southern bumping acquaintance means stopping chat rude matter busy guard value time efficiency nod head enough Other accepted include holding door open giving gift birthday change Many actions granted thinking get seamlessly daily routines stop analyze every action Sumner Those experience shock subsides new able move smoothly Folkways manners imitated trivial Like help negotiate lives within given Think Over How do exist were thing Do chaos ensue relative peace could kept Explain Practice biggest difference between primarily linked morality whereas being commonplace absolute temporary refer material nonmaterial Show Answer p Glossary Licenses Attributions CC licensed Shared previouslyIntroduction e Authored OpenStax CNX Located http cnx org contents – c e-a f d Introduction License BY Attribution Terms Download free Previous Next