Final answer:
In particularistic societies, the age grouping of adolescents is flexible, whereas it is rigid in universalistic societies. Educational norms, such as the starting age for formal schooling, exemplify this difference.
Step-by-step explanation:
In societies where norms are particularistic versus universalistic, the age grouping of adolescents is flexible for the particularistic normed societies and rigid for the universalistic normed societies. In particularistic societies, social norms, including those related to age, are more likely to be influenced by relationships and vary according to the context. By contrast, in universalistic societies, norms tend to be applied uniformly, and as such, age grouping is more standardized and follows a rigid structure that adheres to specific societal regulations.
Examples of this can be seen in educational norms, where in some countries, the age at which children begin formal schooling can vary widely and depends on socio-economic, cultural, or familial situations. In contrast, in more universally normed societies like the United States, children are mandated to start school at a consistent age, adhering to a fixed age-related transition point.