Example of Moral Norms

Moral norms are the rules, precepts or guidelines that govern the conduct of individuals in a specific society. It is a code of conduct that focuses on values ​​related to good, evil, justice and healthy coexistence.

To define exactly what moral norms are, it is important to understand what morality is, what it refers to. The word moral It comes from the Latin moralis, which means "referring to customs or the way of doing things." Morality is related to the actions of individuals from good and evil. Each person has a belief system or moral values ​​on which they base their existence and their coexistence with others. Morality governs the way people act; how they cope with social situations: the things they would or would not do according to criteria own and at the same time collective that establishes what is considered correct and incorrect for the dignity human.

Moral standards are learned from social coexistence and interaction with other people; values ​​such as good, virtue, duty, justice, respect, dignity are based

, which are transmitted to establish a healthy and respectful social coexistence that takes into account human rights and duties.

General characteristics of moral norms

• They are not punishable norms; that is, its non-compliance is not sanctioned. Unlike legal norms, moral norms are not written in an official code or constitution that must be respected and whose breach entails a punishment, such as jail or the payment of a retribution.
• Breaking a moral norm can lead to social rejection, maladjustment to the social system, feelings of guilt, among others.
• They are incoercible. That is, you cannot coerce them to enforce them: you cannot force or force someone against her will to follow these rules.
• They can vary over time. They are not dogmatic; that is, they are not inflexible or absolute. They are evaluated and can be modified according to social and individual consciousness, culture or historical moment. What is moral or immoral for one person, culture or society may not be for another.
• They are internal and self-imposed. These norms are dictated by conscience itself, based on reflection and acceptance of certain values ​​and social moral criteria. This is related to free will, with the freedom to choose how to act from the conscience of each person. Freedom implies that each one can decide her way of life; each person is free to accept and impose certain moral norms to govern his conduct. People decide whether they will comply or not.
• They are autonomous; that is, each person establishes them; they do not depend on a body or institution that issues them officially. They are not subject to or depend on regulations made by an external body, as in the case of legal norms.
• They imply a responsibility on the individual, an ability to take charge of his actions, of the positive or negative consequences that derive from them.
• They are one-sided. This means that the subject is the one who complies with the norm and acts by himself without there being another person or institution that expects this fulfillment or that forces it. For example, legal laws are bilateral because there are two parties involved: who demands the compliance with the laws and also grants rights, and who abides by his obligations and exercises his Rights.
• A moral standard considers what is correct not only for an individual but for human beings in general. If it were based only on the interests of one person without taking others into account, it would not be a moral norm, as it would be based on criteria of self-interest and selfishness. Moral norms must be valid, neutral and generally applicable according to values ​​considered fair, good and correct.
• They are based on social values ​​and are shared by a community. Moral norms are shared because they are based on criteria and values ​​that regulate what is good or bad, what is positive or negative for coexistence, respect and social justice. A person accepts and imposes a moral norm that in turn is accepted or validated by society. Furthermore, moral norms are based on the idea that each person must act in such a way that what he does is also what he expects from others.

40 Examples of moral norms

1. Do not make fun of other people's physical or psychological defects. For example, making fun of people who have a disability, such as Down syndrome.
2. Do not inflict pain or physical harm on people; for example, do not torture and do not hit. In this case, torture, for example, has been used or is used in some countries as a method of confession, even guaranteed by law. This is an example of how a moral law can contradict a legal law or vice versa.
3. Do not do psychological harm to others; not do something that could affect someone's emotional stability.
4. Do not force someone to do something that he does not want or that goes against her principles.
5. Do not abandon your children on the street. Parents must take responsibility for the care of their children.
6. Do not get rid of pets by laying them out on the street.
7. Do not tell a secret that someone confided to you. By breaking this moral norm, the loyalty that you have towards someone is also broken.
8. Return the objects that someone else loaned you.
9. Keep promises made to other people and fulfill obligations to others.
10. That your actions do not harm or hurt other people. For example, when an entrepreneur seeks personal success at the cost of exploitation and mistreatment of employees.

1. Seek the welfare of others.
2. If you have a position or position of power, do not misuse it by benefiting in such a way as to cause harm or take advantage of others.
3. Help someone who calls for help or is in an emergency situation.
4. Do not invade the spaces designated for disabled people.
5. Do not cheat in any type of competition or game in which you participate.
6. Do not abandon the elderly; help them in whatever they need.
7. Do not provide the means for someone to commit an act against themselves, such as suicide.
8. Be loyal to people; comply with the pacts or obligations that correspond to us towards others. For example, fidelity in relationships.
9. Do not waste water or food.
10. Do not pollute the environment with waste: streets, rivers, nature, the sea, etc.
11. Not taking advantage of people's vulnerability.
12. Do not discriminate or segregate people based on their racial identity; for example, not to put down a person who belongs to an indigenous ethnic group.
13. Do not discriminate or segregate people based on their physical appearance; for example, not to offend people who have a disability.
14. Do not discriminate or segregate people because of the way they speak; for example, not to make fun of or make less of people who, due to their social condition, have a certain way of speaking.
15. Do not discriminate or segregate people because of their language; for example, indigenous languages.
16. Do not discriminate or segregate people because of their sexual preference; for example, causing harm or treating people with a homosexual preference differently.
17. Do not discriminate or segregate people because of their religion.
18. Help people with low economic resources.
19. Tell the truth; don't tell lies.
20. Do not insult people.
21. Do not steal from others; for example, money or other people's objects.
22. Take care of the children in the best possible way; be attentive to their health, education, basic needs, food, etc.
23. Take care of pets; take responsibility for their care and feeding.
24. That children and young people respect older people; to parents, to the elderly, to teachers.
25. Do not ask someone for something that could cause you harm. For example, asking someone to engage in an illegal act.
26. Do not extort money from people; that is, not trying to get a person to do something or get money from someone through threats.
27. Not deceive; for example, lying to someone when selling a product or service.
28. Do not disrespect others.
29. Do not abuse the trust that someone places in us.
30. Take into account the opinions of other people.