Gavin Howe
Rules and laws are created to maintain order and promote social control, but the question arises: are they designed to pervert social behavior? Perversion refers to behavior that deviates from what is considered orthodox or normal, often carrying a negative connotation. While rules and laws are essential for a functional society, their impact on social behavior is complex and multifaceted. They can shape norms, values, and expectations, influencing our understanding of acceptable behavior. However, the relationship between rules, laws, and social behavior is dynamic and influenced by various factors, including cultural context, power dynamics, and evolving societal values. This interplay between rules, laws, and social behavior is a nuanced topic that warrants exploration to understand how they interact and influence each other.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rules and laws are not the only methods for controlling the behavior of individuals | N/A |
| Norms emerge spontaneously without conscious human design | N/A |
| Norms are driven by shared expectations | Everyone conforms, everyone is expected to conform, and everyone wants to conform |
| Norms are devices that coordinate people's expectations in interactions that possess multiple equilibria | N/A |
| Norms are not formal laws but still promote a great deal of social control | N/A |
| Norms regulate conduct and prescribe acceptable behavior | To not injure others, the golden rule, and to keep promises |
| Norms vary depending on culture, race, religion, and geographical location | N/A |
| Norms are learned through social interaction | N/A |
| Norms can be settled without a central governing body | N/A |
| Laws are a highly formal version of norms | N/A |
| Laws are rules that bind all people living in a community | N/A |
| Laws protect general safety and ensure rights as citizens | N/A |
| Laws are clearly communicated and fairly enforced | N/A |
| Laws protect against crimes like murder, robbery, rape, and assault | N/A |
| Laws are sometimes controversial, and citizens do not always agree on what should be illegal | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Laws are a highly formal version of norms
Norms, rules, and laws are all standards of conduct that can have varying levels of specificity and formality. Laws are a highly formal version of norms. Norms are shared social beliefs about behaviour, and they are distinct from "ideas", "attitudes", and "values", which can be held privately and do not necessarily concern behaviour. Norms are not necessarily laws set in writing, but rather generally accepted and widely sanctioned routines that people follow in their daily lives. Norms can be informal, such as manners, or formal, such as written rules. Informal norms, if broken, may not invite legal punishment, but may instead result in reprimands, warnings, or othering.
Economist and game theorist Peyton Young defines norms as "patterns of behaviour that are self-enforcing within a group." He emphasizes that norms are driven by shared expectations: "Everyone conforms, everyone is expected to conform, and everyone wants to conform when they expect everyone else to conform." Norms typically evolve without top-down direction, through interactions between individuals rather than by design. Norms are needed to coordinate action and maintain social order, especially in diverse societies. They are the foundation of concepts such as the "golden rule" and the idea of keeping promises.
While norms are not formal laws, they still exert a great deal of social control. Norms can be enforced formally, such as through sanctions, or informally, through body language and non-verbal communication cues. Norms can also be created and advanced through conscious human design by "norm entrepreneurs." Social norms have a powerful influence on human behavioural changes and are well-incorporated by major theories that explain human behaviour. They play a key role in the evolution of human cooperation, helping children understand their role as members of a larger group and how to behave in a way that supports the group.
Although laws and state legislation are not intended to control social norms, society and the law are inherently linked, with one influencing the other. This is evident in the language used in legislation, which can be controlling and dictating of what should or should not be accepted. Formal norms, such as street signs, are an example of the enforcement of cultural norms. Legal norms are grounded in and emerge from actual social practices, and like social norms, legal systems react to non-compliance with explicit sanctions.
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Norms are devices that coordinate expectations
Norms, or social norms, are patterns of behaviour that are self-enforcing within a group. They are driven by shared expectations, with everyone conforming, expecting to conform, and wanting to conform. Norms are devices that coordinate people's expectations in interactions that possess multiple equilibria. Norms are not formal laws, but they promote a great deal of social control. They are statements that regulate conduct and prescribe what is acceptable behaviour in specific instances. Norms vary depending on culture, race, religion, and geographical location. They are the foundation of concepts such as the golden rule and keeping promises. Without norms, there would be no consensus, common ground, or restrictions.
Norms are not necessarily distinct from rules and laws, as they are all standards of conduct that vary in specificity and formality. Laws are a highly formal version of norms, and while they often overlap, they can sometimes be at odds. For example, a law may prohibit something that norms allow, or vice versa. Norms can emerge spontaneously without conscious human design, evolving gradually through repeated interactions and the use of discretionary stimuli to control behaviour. They are generally accepted and widely sanctioned routines that people follow in everyday life.
While norms are not written down or formally enforced like laws, they still play a crucial role in maintaining social order. Norms are learned through social interaction and experience, and they influence our nonverbal behaviour and our understanding of what is acceptable in different contexts. For example, wearing a suit to a job interview is a common norm in the white-collar workforce. Norms can also vary within small communities or neighbourhoods, and disputes can often be settled without a central governing body simply through interactions within these communities.
When norms are violated, individuals may face informal negative sanctions such as gossip, public ridicule, social ostracism, or even threats of physical harm. These sanctions are particularly effective in small-scale societies and small communities within larger societies. Positive sanctions, on the other hand, reward appropriate behaviour with praise, honours, or other forms of recognition. In some societies, social control involves the belief in supernatural punishment for deviation from the norm, providing a powerful incentive for people to behave properly.
In conclusion, norms are indeed devices that coordinate expectations by establishing shared patterns of behaviour and regulating acceptable conduct within a group or society. They play a crucial role in maintaining social order and promoting consensus, even though they are not formal laws. Norms vary across cultures and contexts, and they can emerge and evolve spontaneously through interactions and shared expectations. The enforcement of norms is achieved through informal sanctions, both positive and negative, which encourage conformity and discourage deviant behaviour.
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Norms emerge spontaneously without conscious design
Norms, or patterns of behaviour that are self-enforcing within a group, can emerge spontaneously without conscious design. Economist and game theorist Peyton Young defines norms as driven by shared expectations: "Everyone conforms, everyone is expected to conform, and everyone wants to conform when they expect everyone else to conform." Norms are not formal laws, but they do promote a great deal of social control and are statements that regulate conduct. Norms are often culturally, racially, religiously, and geographically specific, and they form the foundation of what is considered acceptable behaviour. For example, norms dictate that it is unacceptable to injure others, that one should keep promises, and that one should not engage in incestuous relationships.
Norms emerge and evolve through the repeated interactions of individuals, becoming stable and self-reinforcing over time. They are not typically imposed through top-down direction or by design, but rather develop informally through discretionary stimuli that control behaviour. These informal norms are widely sanctioned routines that people follow in their daily lives, and they are often unwritten and vary based on the specific context and culture. For example, norms regarding appropriate dress vary across different groups and communities, and an individual learns these norms through social interaction and experience.
In small communities or neighbourhoods, norms can play a significant role in settling disputes and maintaining order without the need for a central governing body. Robert Ellickson, in his work "Order without Law: How Neighbours Settle Disputes", studies how societal norms create order within small groups. Norms can also be created and advanced through conscious human design by "norm entrepreneurs", who may use positive or negative sanctions to encourage or discourage certain behaviours.
While norms are not formal laws, they are closely linked to the legal system. Laws are a highly formal version of norms, and they reflect the shared values and morals of a society. Laws are often created to address issues that arise in society, such as updating bullying laws to include cyberbullying with the advent of social networking sites. Laws can also be controversial, as citizens may not always agree on what should be illegal, and there may be discrepancies between laws and norms. For instance, a law may prohibit something that norms still allow, or vice versa.
In summary, norms emerge spontaneously through the interactions and shared expectations within a group, and they play a crucial role in regulating behaviour and promoting social order. They are closely tied to the concept of laws, which provide a more formal framework for governing society and ensuring the safety and rights of citizens.
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Laws protect our rights as citizens
While rules and norms are not necessarily distinct phenomena, laws are a highly formal version of norms. Laws are created to protect the rights of citizens and ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with dignity. They provide a framework for society to function and promote social control. Laws are based on social norms, which are the generally accepted standards of behaviour in a particular group or culture. These norms can vary depending on factors such as culture, race, religion, and geographical location.
In the realm of education, laws protect the rights of public students to wear ceremonial tribal regalia during graduation, allowing them to express their cultural identity and heritage. Additionally, laws ensure that students with disabilities receive the necessary accommodations to access education equally.
Laws also safeguard citizens' right to express their religion and beliefs. For instance, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) protects an individual's right to freedom of religion, as seen in the case of Kokkinakis v. Greece (1993). The court ruled that teaching a religion, as guaranteed under Article 9 of the ECHR, does not violate another person's right to freedom of religion.
Furthermore, laws protect citizens' right to vote and resist voter intimidation efforts. They ensure that citizens can exercise their voting rights without fear or coercion. Additionally, laws provide protection against discrimination and abuse in prison, guaranteeing fair treatment and safeguarding the dignity of incarcerated individuals.
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Laws are updated to reflect societal changes
Laws are a reflection of societal values and morals, and as such, they must evolve to accommodate changing social norms. While norms are not formal laws, they exert significant influence on the legislative process and play a crucial role in shaping societal expectations. Norms are the patterns of behaviour that emerge within a group, driven by shared expectations, as economist and game theorist Peyton Young explains. Norms can evolve spontaneously without conscious design, gradually becoming widely accepted routines that guide everyday behaviour.
Laws are formalised norms that are established to maintain social order and ensure the safety and protection of citizens' rights. They are created and updated to address emerging issues and reflect changing societal values. For example, laws regarding bullying and stalking have been updated to encompass cyberbullying and cyberstalking on social media platforms, addressing a new dimension of these issues that did not exist when the original laws were enacted.
The relationship between norms and laws is complex. While norms can influence the creation and modification of laws, laws can also shape social norms. Laws that are clearly communicated and fairly enforced contribute to social cohesion and help establish a sense of shared understanding within a community. They provide a framework for acceptable behaviour and serve as a deterrent for unacceptable actions. However, it is important to recognise that laws and norms can sometimes be at odds with each other. Norms may permit behaviours that are legally prohibited, or they may evolve in ways that conflict with existing laws.
The process of updating laws to reflect societal changes is essential for maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of the legal system. It ensures that the laws remain responsive to the needs and values of the citizens they serve. This dynamic nature of legislation allows societies to adapt to new challenges and circumstances, fostering a more inclusive and just environment for all members of the community.
In conclusion, laws are not static but are updated to reflect societal changes. This evolution of laws is a critical aspect of governance, ensuring that the legal framework remains aligned with the values and needs of a dynamic society. While norms play a significant role in shaping laws, the formalisation of norms into laws brings about a more structured and widely accepted system of behaviour regulation.
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Frequently asked questions
Social norms are patterns of behavior that are self-enforcing within a group. They are driven by shared expectations and regulate conduct. Norms are not formal laws, but they promote a great deal of social control.
Social norms and laws are inherently linked and influence each other. Laws are a highly formal version of norms. Norms may develop informally and emerge gradually as a result of repeated behavior. Laws are often created to address gaps in existing norms or to update norms to reflect new technologies or cultural changes.
Laws provide rules that bind all people living in a community. They protect our general safety and ensure our rights as citizens. Laws are usually written down formally so that they are known clearly to everyone.
People who violate social norms may be subjected to gossip, public ridicule, social ostracism, insults, and even threats of physical harm. These informal negative sanctions can be very effective in small-scale societies and sub-groups within larger societies, such as families, work groups, or religious communities. Alternatively, some societies use positive sanctions, such as praise or honors, to reward appropriate behavior.
