Final answer:
Norms are social expectations or rules that people follow in a culture or society, dictating how people should behave and what is considered acceptable or unacceptable. In most societies, norms are related to levels of conformity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Norms are social expectations or rules that people follow in a culture or society. They dictate how people should behave, what is considered acceptable or unacceptable, and the standards that people should adhere to. In most societies, norms are related to levels of conformity, meaning how well individuals adhere to the group norms or expectations.
For example, in some cultures, conformity to social norms may involve behaviors such as greeting others with a simple 'Hi, how are you?' without going into detail about one's personal life. Violating this norm in that particular culture may be seen as unusual or even rude.
Norms can be further classified into mores and folkways. Mores are norms based on moral views and principles of a group, while folkways are less serious norms that guide everyday conduct. Violating mores can have serious consequences, whereas violating folkways may result in less severe social sanctions.