Norms, Moral codes and Values

• Norms


  The specific rules or expectations that are placed upon individuals to behave in a socially acceptable way
• Norms


  • They differ based upon social settings
  • They differ based upon social characteristics like age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, religious beliefs
• Norms based on social location


  • Dress code at school, college or work
  • Formal attire vs casual wear
• Norms governing social situations


  • Quiet in a library or doctor's waiting room
  • Noisy at a party, concert or sports event
• Norms based on age and gender


  • Playing in the park when young vs when elderly
• Moral codes


  What guides us, a code of ethics advising how we should act in certain situations
• Moral codes


  • Associated with social institutions like education, government, criminal justice system
  • Individuals in these institutions are expected to act morally and display desirable behaviors
• Moral codes


  • Doctors/nurses maintaining patient confidentiality
  • Teachers helping students
  • Police treating individuals equally and without prejudice
• Values


  What people in society believe is the right thing to do in a given social context and in society as a whole
• Values


  • Reflect norms, with certain behaviors being valued over others
  • Subject to change as people's attitudes change
• Common values in society


  • Meritocracy and fairness
  • Protecting children's innocence
  • Treating everyone equally regardless of social characteristics
• Not everyone displays these admirable values in society, which creates deviance