Social norms are shared expectations about how people behave in a particular group or situation. They can influence greetings, conversation, clothing, queues, workplace behaviour and many other parts of daily life.

Norms vary between groups

A behaviour considered polite in one community may be unusual in another. Norms can also change over time, so they should not be treated as universal or permanent rules.

Descriptive norms

Descriptive norms concern what people commonly do. For example, people in a particular setting may usually queue before receiving a service or speak quietly in a library.

Injunctive norms

Injunctive norms concern behaviour that a group generally approves or disapproves of. Saying thank you or avoiding interruption during a formal meeting can be examples, depending on the social setting.

Customs, norms and laws

A social norm is not the same thing as a law. Breaking a norm may lead to social disapproval, while breaking a law can lead to formal legal consequences. Some behaviours are influenced by both law and social expectations.

Norms and stereotypes

Descriptions of social norms should not turn stereotypes about gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion or other identities into claims about how people ought to behave. A widespread expectation can be studied as a social phenomenon without treating it as morally correct.

Why social norms matter

Norms can make social interactions more predictable, but they can also change when communities reconsider older expectations. Studying them helps explain how behaviour is influenced by culture, institutions and interaction with other people.