action is called a norm or normative it only emphasises that it conforms to community expectations of

behaviour. The degrees of conformity may, however, vary very much.

1. MEANING AND DEFINITION OF NORMS

Meaning of Norm

"Social norms" refer to the group-shared standards of behaviour. Norms represent "standard- ized
generalization" concerning expected modes of behaviour. They are based on social values. A notm is a
pattern setting limits on individual behaviour. Norms are the blueprints for behaviour. They determine,
guide, control and also predict human behaviour.

Norms are group-shared expectations. Such expectations are reflected in statements such as-"A good
citizen always respects laws", "A gentleman pays his debts", "Younger one must always re- spect elderly
people", "One is supposed to be quiet and respectful, and not to disturb others in a place of worship", "A
lawyer must not produce damaging evidence in the court against his own client", "A scientist must be a
restless searcher of truth and free from prejudices", "Any occupant of any profes- sion must follow the
professional ethics associated with it", "He should not have done that." Count- less such norms govern
our social life in all situations.

Definition of Norms

1. According to Young and Mack, 'norms' refer to the "group-shared expectations".

2. According to H.M. Johnson, "A norm is an abstract pattern held in the mind, that sets certain limits for
behaviour".

3. Norms refer to "the rules that guide behaviour in everyday situations and are derived from

the value"-Donald Light Jr. and Suzanne Keller

4. As Robert Bierstedt has pointed out, "A norm is a rule or standard that governs our conduct in the
social situations in which we participate." He further writes that a norm can be treated as "a cultural
specification that guides our conduct in society."

5. "Social norms are rules developed by a group of people that specify how people must, should, may,
should not and must not behave in various situations."-G.R. Leslie, R.F. Larson and B.L. Gorman.

It is clear from the above definition that norms can be understood as rules and regulations that groups
live by. Norms are the means through which values are expressed in behaviour.

Personal or Private Norms and Social Norms

We can make a distinction between personal or private norms and social norms. Private norms are
purely individual in character and they reside with individuals only. They may influence only the

situations and circumstances. For instance, norms relating to privacy may insist that person's mail must
not be opened by other people. Similarly, an individual's house must not be entered without his
permission, etc. A person's private life or individual life is his own concern and others must not poke
their nose into the personal affairs. In this way a series of norms direct how people should behave in
terms of the value of `privacy'.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL NORMS

1. Social norms are universal. Social norms are the very basis of social order. No society can function
smoothly in the absence of norms. In fact, the concept of society pre-supposes the presence of norms.
Even in the uncivilized and barbaric societies also we find some norms.

2. Norms are related to the factual order. In every society we find two types of order-(i) the normative
order that insists how the individuals should or ought to behave, and (ii) the factual order

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that is related to and based on the actual behaviour of the people. It is through the normative order or
system that society regulates the behaviour of its members. But this normative order should be related
to the events in the real world for it is meant to achieve result in the factual world. The factual order also
exercises an influence on the normative system. For example, a rule requiring all men to have three
wives would be valueless if the sex ratio did not permit it. Similarly, a rule requiring everybody to bathe
in salt water in order to prevent tuberculosis would be valueless if bathing in salt water had nothing to
do with curbing the disease. Thus norms in order to become effective must represent correctly the
relations between real events. They must take into account the factual situation.

3. Norms incorporate value judgements. A norm is a standard or behavioural expectation shared by

group members. They represent "standardized generalization" concerning expected modes of behaviour.
As standardized generalizations, they are concepts which have been evaluated by the group and they
incorporate value judgements. It is in terms of norms that we judge whether some action is right or
wrong, good or bad, wanted or unwanted, expected or unexpected. Norms are normally based on
values. Norms do not refer to an average tendency of man. But they denote expected behaviour or even
ideal behaviour.

4. Norms are relative to situations and groups. Norms vary from society to society. Some- times, within
the same society they differ from group to group. Each group in a society, to a certain extent at least, has
its own norms. There is no social group without norms. Within the same society they differ with age, sex,
occupation and social status of the individuals. Some norms do not govern the behaviour of all the
people always. Norms of behaviour meant for old people are not applicable to the children. What is
'alright' for a man is not 'alright' for a woman. Norms meant for soldiers and policemen are different
from those of teachers and advocates. Behaviour patterns meant for married people cannot be followed
by unmarried people. Especially in a multigroup society or a complex society such wide variation in
norms is found. But in primitive societies, in general, single set of religious beliefs, practices and norms is
found, because their culture exhibits high degree of integration.

5. Norms are not always obeyed by all. It is wrong to assume that people in a society obey all the norms
always. Some obey some norms at some times and disobey or ignore some others at some other times.
Even those who normally respect and obey norms may go against some norms in some particular
situations. This we can observe in some big political and religious gatherings when highly

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