Transcript Norms-and-Values

3. Norms and Values
Norms
• Rules defining appropriate and
inappropriate behavior of a culture
–Mores: norms that involve morality
–Folkways: norms that lack moral
significance
–Laws: formally defined and enforced
norms
• Misdemeanors tend to be folkways or less
important mores; felonies are important mores
Norms can be Pre- or Pro-scriptive
• Pre- you should do it
–Help the elderly
–Wear clothes
• Pro- you should NOT do it
–Don’t shake a baby
–Don’t wear socks with flip-flops
Is it a more, folkway, or law?
Laws to Laugh at…
• In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be
blindfolded while driving
• In Arizona, hunting camels is prohibited
• In FL, if you leave an elephant at a parking
meter, you must still pay the meter
• In IL, you must contact the police before
entering the city in an automobile
• In Iowa, kisses may last for no more than 5
minutes
More Laws to Laugh at…
• In Maine, you must not step out of a plane in
flight
• In Mass, no gorillas are allowed in the
backseat of cars
• In Minn, a person may not cross state lines
with a duck atop their head
• In Vermont, whistling under water is illegal
• In Washington, it is illegal to pretend your
parents are rich.
Taboo
• Taboos are norms that are so
strong they often result in
physical or emotional exile
of the person who commits
it.
–EX: incest is taboo in our
culture!
Enforcing Rules
• Norms are often enforced with the
use of sanctions:
rewards/punishments to encourage
behavior w/in a culture
–I thank you for being kind or
providing a service, but its ISS if
you are tardy 5+ times!
Values
• Broad ideas about what is good/bad
that are shared by members of a
culture
–Provide the basis for our norms
–So, SANCTIONS (of which LAWS
are a type), are used to enforce
FOLKWAYS and MORES, which
are types of NORMS, which are
based on VALUES
US Values
• Equality
• Democracy
• Freedom
• Technology
• Entertainment
Complete the “Norm Curve”
Add 10 norms of your culture to the curve.
Pre-scriptive
Pro-scriptive
Mores at the ends
Folkways at the curve