Final answer:
Norms are the rules and standards that govern acceptable behavior in a society, reflecting its values and expectations. They shape everything from everyday interactions to legal principles, differing across cultures, and adherence to them is generally expected from society's members.
Step-by-step explanation:
Norms are defined as standards or rules about acceptable behavior in a society. These are the visible and invisible rules of conduct through which societies are structured. Social norms are the common behavioral expectations of general society and reflect what is considered good, right, and important within a culture. People adhere to these norms, which can include laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals, and other cultural rules that govern social life.
Norms may be seen in everyday situations such as how one is expected to behave when buying food or greeting another person, and these are often influenced by the society's concept of how men and women should behave. There's also the concept of the generalized other, where the individual comes to understand the common behavioral expectations of their society. Violations of social norms can result in various forms of sanction, ranging from mild disapproval to legal penalties.
Different cultures may have different norms, as illustrated by the example of men holding hands in parts of Africa and the Middle East being a normal expression of friendship, while it may be perceived differently in the US. Social norms also encompass behaviors or practices that are required or expected of members of a particular group, and they help maintain order and predictability within a society.