Understanding Social Norms: Conformity, Influence, and Society

This essay provides an analysis of social norms and conformity within a society, defining social norms as informal agreements governing behavior and conformity as the adjustment of individuals to fit into a group. It argues that conformity offers security and is essential for societal function, highli...Read More

Running head: SOCIAL NORM 1
Social Norm
Name
Institution

SOCIAL NORM 2
Abstract
This paper is an analysis of social norms and conformity of people to a particular society. A
social norm can be understood as informal agreements or understandings that govern the way
members of a particular society behave. Conformity, however, is the efforts a person or a group
makes to fit in the place of another. It often involves a change in the way people perceive certain
ideas or believe or the way people behave. Conformity is a good thing because it rewards the
conformer with security. Social norms differ depending on the different situations and the
perceptions of different groups of people. There are norms which are good, others are fair while
others are outfaced and do not add any good to the society. However, visualizing a society that
has no social norms at all is such a dark tunnel. No one has ever been in such a society to
comprehend how exactly it can be, except when it is viewed from a philosophical perspective.
Norms can make people conform depending majorly on the normative influence and
informational influence. These two factors define why most people find it easy to conform.
However, still, there is no universality as far conformity is concerned. People perceive what is
good or bad in quite different ways.

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Social Norm
Introduction
A social norm can be understood as informal agreements or understandings that govern
the way members of a particular society behave. Social psychology places units like workers
within an office or a special social gathering which may support norms distinctly or such norms
may be in conformity with the social as well as cultural expectations. By extension, this means
that norms are attributed to the acceptable collective conduct of groups, or sometimes it can be
the perception of an individual regarding a particular person, society or any other group
(Ullmann-Margalit, 2015). On the other hand, conformity is the efforts a person or a group
makes to fit in the place of another. It often involves a change in the way people perceive certain
ideas or believe or the way people behave.
Conformity and Social Norms
Conformity is a good thing. There are numerous cases which can prove that to conform
is good for an individual or a group (Klucharev, Hytönen, Rijpkema, Smidts, & Fernández,
2009). For instance, consider the fact that today’s world comprises of many aspects of political,
social and economic factors that keep the society running, then without conforming no one can
easily progress. Conformity rewards the conformer with security. In a case where a person
travels to another country, the person may have to live the way the people in that country live so
that he can continue to enjoy the benefits of security (Philippe & Durand, 2011). The laws in
different places in the world compel people to conform to the ideals of the land. Going against
the law, or non-conformance leads to dire consequences (Posner, 2009).

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Social norms also differ depending on the different situations. However, the following
are the main social norms.
A. In public
i. Going to the back of the line in a queue
ii. Look straightly in the eye with someone you are speaking to.
iii. Showing kindness to elders, like leaving for them the seat.
B. While using phone
iv. Saying hello when you receive the call, and bidding one goodbye before hanging up
the call.
v. Putting the phone in a silent mode when in special gatherings such as a meeting or
church.
C. In workplaces
vi. Dress smartly and appropriately for the job
vii. Notifying the managers or supervisors of either sickness or other issues that may lead
one not to make it to the job.
D. When dining
viii. One is not expected to talk with the food in the mouth.
ix. Don’t eat soup with a fork.
x. Thanking the servers
Among these norms, i, iii, vi, and viii are very positive. However, norm number v may
be negative, mainly because the ringing of phones may not be a great distractor for the meeting,
especially when the phone is set to in low tones. However, ii, iv, vii, ix and x are neutral norms.
Norms that Are Making Life Better

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Looking at the various social norms that exist in the world today, there are those that
make me so happy. I am particularly glad that it is socially agreed that it is good to be quiet in
the library. I love reading in the library that had people been making noise there it would distract
me a lot. I am also glad that it is a norm that elders are given special respect. I never have trouble
with my old grandmother in public places. I am also practicing in my profession, and the code of
dressing adopted at the workplace makes everyone comfortable and equal so that workers do not
experience problems or competition with others. The fourth norm I am glad is that people have
to ask for something before they can have it. This makes it easy to track for items belonging to
someone which would otherwise be a great challenge. And finally, I am happy that being polite
to teachers and other people is a norm that the society highly encourages. I am at peace with
everyone and that behavior has made favorite among my age mates and elders.
Without social Norms?
It is difficult for human beings to put themselves in the imagination of a world without
social norms. However, to imagine that there were no social norms first calls for the appreciation
of the role of social norms. Without social norms, the world would be in a state of confusion. For
instance, there would be no respect for other people’s properties. There would be no respect for
other people, and this would create a situation in which there is no distinction between what is
noble or not. However, looking at other factors, philosophically, the world appears better as it is
now due to the social norms. However, without such norms, societies would still fit in some way.
Why People Conform
There are three main reasons why people conform. First, the normative influence of
social life. It is evident in cases where there exists a majority among the people, and who are so
influential in the community. Because of the influence they have, the majority may make the

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minority group to be in an uncomfortable state and therefore conforming (Cruwys, Bevelander,
& Hermans, 2015). Secondly, informational influence may make people conform. It comes as a
result of subscribing to the information that has been spread about something leading to
acceptance of certain ideas (Zhang, Lee, & Zhao, 2010). This situation commonly arises from the
need to make urgent decisions based on the information past or a state of dilemma or having a
belief that those who take certain actions are experts in the field (Jackson, et al., 2012).
Is This Norm Good or Bad?
As long as something is taken to be a norm in the society, it is generally good. Norms
are done for the good of every member in a particular community so that an individual may not
experience harm from other people within the same community (Eid & Diener, 2009). However,
what one group considers to be a norm may not be considered in the same way in a different
social setting. Therefore, the opinion of people can distinguish whether a norm is good or bad
since norms are not universal.

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References
Cruwys, T., Bevelander, K., & Hermans, R. C. (2015). Social modeling of eating: A review of
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Eid, M., & Diener, E. (2009). Norms for experiencing emotions in different cultures: Inter-and
intranational differences. Culture and Well-Being, 38(1), pp. 169-202.
Jackson, J., Bradford, B., Hough, M., Myhill, A., Quinton, P., & Tyler, T. R. (2012). Why do
people comply with the law? Legitimacy and the influence of legal institutions. British
journal of criminology, 52(6), 1051-1071.
Klucharev, V., Hytönen, K., Rijpkema, M., Smidts, A., & Fernández, G. (2009). Reinforcement
learning signal predicts social conformity. Neuron, 61(1), 140-151.
Philippe, D., & Durand, R. (2011). The impact of norm‐conforming behaviors on firm
reputation. Strategic Management Journal, 32(9), 969-993.
Posner, E. A. (2009). Law and social norms. Harvard university press.
Ullmann-Margalit, E. (2015). The emergence of norms. OUP Oxford.
Zhang, K. Z., Lee, M. K., & Zhao, S. J. (2010). Understanding the Informational Social
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