Final answer:
Social norms are collections of norms, rules, and patterns of behavior that enhance the prospects for cooperation. Compliance with social norms is often encouraged through rewards, sanctions, and punishments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social norms are collections of norms, rules, and patterns of behavior that enhance the prospects for cooperation. They are behaviors that reflect compliance with what cultures and societies have defined as good, right, and important. These norms can include both formal norms, such as laws, and informal norms, such as folkways.
For example, in many parts of Africa and the Middle East, it is considered normal for men to hold hands in friendship, while in the United States, this behavior may be seen as unusual. Norms help people negotiate their daily lives within a given culture and reinforce social order.
Compliance with social norms is often encouraged through rewards, sanctions, and punishments. When people observe the norms of society and uphold its values, they are often rewarded, while certain behaviors may be sanctioned or punished to encourage conformity.