Example of Social Norms

Social norms are the guidelines or rules of conduct that are based on the customs, practices, uses and traditions of a specific social group. The purpose of this type of norm is to regulate coexistence, treatment and social practices. Like all norms, they seek to avoid chaos and generate a certain stability or regulation. These norms are also called norms of social treatment or social conventions. since they correspond to repetitive habits that are socially accepted. They are behaviors, customs or habits that by dint of being repeated end up establishing themselves as the norm.

These types of norms are closely related to the culture and tradition of a society.. In this way, social norms change according to the culture, the country or region in which one is and, also, they change over time, with the passing of the generations and the transformation of customs and practices: some rules are left behind, others are adapted and new ones are created.

Social norms can also vary by group or class member

l. The rules of etiquette in food can vary, for example, depending on the social group or the situation in which one is.

As the name implies, social norms govern a community, to a group of people or peoples who share a vision of the world, a culture, customs, traditions, etc. These types of norms are created within the society in which we live and are constantly followed in daily social practices, in different areas and social situations.: home, street, work, school, food and drink establishments, baths, ceremonies, festivities, parties, dances, celebrations, funerals; in short, in every situation or social practice there are certain social norms that regulate conduct, actions, customs and treatment in the interaction between people. They are learned by use, by social coexistence and by a transmission that goes from generation to generation.

General characteristics of social norms

• They are conventional. They are established by a pact or common agreement in which it is understood that the majority follows these rules.
• They are not legally punishable. If one of these rules is breached or broken, there is no legal punishment established by law. However, its non-compliance can sometimes generate social maladjustment or, also, a certain rejection or pointing out. The consequence will change depending on the situation and the people involved.
• They are incoercible. This means that no one can force another person to comply with the rule. Its realization is free; there is no one in charge of forcing someone to act in the manner dictated by some social convention.
• They are heteronomous. This means that they do not arise from the conscience of each individual, but there is an external subject, force or power that dictates the norm. In this case, society in general is the one who dictates the norm to each individual, who at the same time adapts to the practices and, together with other individuals in society, contributes to normalize or change the norms social.
• They are one-sided. This means that only one part, the subject, intervenes in the realization of the norm. There is no one else demanding or observing that the standard is met.
• They are exterior. It is a type of norms that govern or establish the bases of an external behavior of the individual. On the contrary, internal norms, like moral ones, are based on the will, conscience, reasoning and intention of people. Social norms being external can contradict the interiority of people. For example, a person may eat with cutlery because external social use dictates it, but internally they may not agree and prefer to take food with their hands.
• They are not written in a code or official documentrather, they are found in the collective consciousness. They are public knowledge.

Types of social norms

1. Rules of civility.
2. Hygiene's norm.
3. Rules of etiquette.
4. Courtesy rules.
5. Dress codeor fashionable.
6. Norms of cultural traditions or practices.
7. Gender norms or conventions.

30 examples of social norms

1. Stand in lines when something is expected; that people are cared for as they arrived at the place.
2. Yield to pedestrians.
3. Do not speak loudly or yell in study spaces, such as libraries, or in medical spaces, such as hospitals or doctor's offices.
4. Giving a seat to an elderly person, a disabled person, or a pregnant woman in public transportation shows respect and good manners.
5. Do not throw garbage on the street or in public spaces; throw all waste in the places intended for this.
6. The use of toilet paper in the bathrooms.
7. The separation of bathrooms by sex; the existence of exclusive bathrooms for women and others for men. The social norm dictates that people must enter the bathroom that corresponds to them.
8. Respect and be careful with other people's objects or other people's property.
9. If a person takes a pet for a walk, he must collect his feces from the public thoroughfare.
10. Cover your mouth when yawning and not make an excessive noise when doing so.
11. Wear a black or serious dress when attending a wake or funeral ceremony.
12. When someone passes away, offer condolences to the close family of the deceased.
13. Wear an appropriate or formal dress at certain celebrations or parties, such as baptisms, weddings, etc. Also dress formally, in a suit, shirt, tailored suit or dress, to attend academic events or ceremonies.
14. Women conventionally use certain clothing or footwear, such as heels, dresses, skirts. Men also wear certain clothing and footwear conventionally, such as suits with a jacket and tie.
15. Swimsuits vary depending on whether they are for men or women. It is customary for women to wear two pieces of suit or, well, a complete one that covers them. Men only cover the lower part of their body.
16. Greet people you know when you arrive at a place or meet them; It can be a greeting with a wave of the hand, with a handshake or with a kiss. The type of greeting and its importance varies from culture to culture.
17. Say goodbye to people when leaving a place, a meeting, a party, etc.
18. Be punctual when you commit to arriving at a certain time, whether it be for school, a meeting of friends, work, or any social situation. What is considered punctual and the tolerance of the time frame considered punctual also vary according to each culture or country.
19. Do not eat with your mouth open or show the food you are chewing to others.
20. Do not talk while eating.
21. Do not chew gum with your mouth open or make noises when chewing it.
22. Do not make noisy sounds or sip when drinking liquids or eating soup or broth.
23. Neither children nor adults should play with cutlery when serving or setting the table. In doing so, this person could be considered to be rude and probably no longer be welcomed back in that house or you would simply be considered rude and disrespectful.
24. Be clean when eating; do not throw food on the floor or table and wipe your mouth with a napkin or handkerchief when it gets dirty.
25. While eating, do not put your hands in your mouth, take food out, spit it out in full view of others, or suck your fingers.
26. Do not place your elbows on the table.
27. Do not point fingers at people.
28. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or cloth or your hand when sneezing.
29. Staying groomed regularly; use cleaning products that mitigate body odor.
30. Wash your hands before and after using the bathroom; likewise, wash your hands before and after eating food.

20 examples of social norms in different countries:

5 social norms in Germany

1. To apologize, Germans always acknowledge their guilt or responsibility for what happened.
2. When shopping at a supermarket, the consumer is the one who packs their own items in boxes or bags.
3. All bottles, plastic or glass, are returned to the supermarket where they were purchased to be recycled. All bottles have an amount that is returned to the buyer when he returns the bottles.
4. In some regions it is customary to leave street shoes outside the house and use special ones for the home. The same when visiting a house; street shoes must be left at the entrance or hall.
5. Punctuality is a very important rule of civility. A person is considered punctual if they arrive before the agreed time or at the agreed time.

10 social norms in Japan

1. Bring a present when visiting the home of in-laws or parents. Also, when you go on vacation and return to Japan, you should bring a gift to friends and family as a kind of souvenir of the place they went.
2. Receiving gifts or gifts with both hands and bowing is a symbol of gratitude.
3. As a rule of etiquette at the table, in Japan it is considered bad manners and bad taste to nail chopsticks in the bowl with rice, these should be placed on the chopstick rest or on the side of the container.
4. It is necessary to avoid pointing at people using the index finger, if we want to call someone with our hand or point to them we must do so by placing the palms of the hands up.
5. It is considered rude to blow your nose in public. But it is allowed to retract the mucus inwards.
6. When you have a cold, a surgical mask is used to prevent contagion from others, which shows respect for others.
7. Do not talk on the phone within any type of public transport.
8. Avoid physical contact in public, whether between parents and children, friends or partners. This is done in order not to inconvenience others.
9. Do not obstruct personal space; doing so would be disrespecting the person.
10. The reverenceojigi) is of utmost importance when it comes to thanking, saying hello, saying goodbye or apologizing. Bowing is a sign of respect and trust, but it also implies submission.

2 South Korean social norms

1. It is important not to wear bare or bare feet, as it is considered very bad education, especially when it comes to eating.
2. You need to bow your head when greeting or thanking. The bow or bow will depend on the status of the other person.

3 social norms in Spain

1. Two kisses are given as an informal greeting but following certain rules: it is not well seen that two men are kissing Unless they are familiar, do not kiss twice if you greet a person you see very often, or even at formal events.
2. Divide the bill among all the friends when going out to eat at a restaurant, even if one eats less than the other, everyone must put the same amount to pay the bill.
3. It's rude not to open gifts in front of the person who gave them for your birthday or anniversary.