What do they say about our culture? Values and Norms What do they say about our culture?

COMPONENTS OF CULTURE VALUES: shared beliefs about what is good and bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. What a society values has a lot to do with the character of the people.

NORMS Norms are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct Norms are shaped by the people, customs, and actions of the people around us…our culture When we internalize norms they become part of our personality (ex-covering your mouth when you cough, eating with your mouth closed

Types of Norms FOLKWAYS: informal norms or everyday customs that we can violate without serious consequence (not brushing teeth) MORES: Culture’s strong held norms with moral and ethical consequences, violators are subject to more severe consequences (jail, loss of employment) LAWS: norms that have been enacted by legislatures to enforce formal sanctions TABOOS: mores so strong that violation is considered extremely offensive, even unmentionable

Sanctions Rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity or norms NEGATIVE SANCTIONS: punishment or threat used to enforce conformity Grounded, getting towed, frowns, death, bad grades POSITIVE SANCTIONS: in the form of a reward Praise for good behavior, stickers, candy, cheers, smiles THE MORE IMPORTANT THE NORM, THE MORE SERIOUS THE PUNISHMENT OR REWARD

Why are sanctions important? SOCIAL CONTROL -The enforcement of norms through internalization or sanctions maintains social control Agents of social control are schools, religion, government, family, and public opinion and give us a standard to live by When methods of ensuring conformity break down, social stability is lost and social order is in jeopardy.