Folkways, Mores, norms and taboos

Folkways refer to norms that arise out of casual human interactions that include routines and repetitive behavior. They results from natural forces that are unconsciously operated by human so that they become recognized manner of behaving in the society as individuals or group strive to solve the social living related problems (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016). For instance, one is may not expected to belch loudly while taking meals. Mores refers to folkways that are stricter and some groups in the society consider them to be important and indispensible to them (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016). An example, stealing is not accepted in the society.

Folkways differs from mores in that they involve a wider and more general character , while more represent a value judgment involving the folkways. Mores plays a deeper role retraining and molding people’s tendencies than folkways and it’s out of more that the profound human convictions of right or wrong emerges (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016).  Folkways are not as deeply ingrained in the society and undergo constant changes in comparison to mores which are more embedded and infrequently changes. In that sense, folkways will change as a person occupational and social status change but such changes are not seen in mores.  Moreover, violating mores is seen as infringing in the rights of others while such a view is not held for violating folkways (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016).  

Norms refers to the particular cultural expectations on how people should conduct themselves in a certain situation. Everyone in the society agrees upon such rules and expectations. Norms may differ from a given culture to another, so that some things are viewed as norms in a certain culture but not in other cultures (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016).  For instance, in American society, it’s a norm to hold direct eye contact while conversing with another person failure to which one is considered rude. In Asia, avoiding direct eye contact during conversation is considered a gesture of respect and politeness while eye contact is perceived as rude. Folkways and taboos basically forms parts of the aforesaid norms, only that folkways are socially approved behavior that are not usually morally important and are established by people in their interactions (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016).  For instance, food and dressing habits are folkways and their violation do not result to server consequences. Mores involves strict norms through which ethical and moral behaviors of individuals are controlled (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016). For instance, one cannot attend social church gathering in nude. However, taboos are norms whose violation would lead to severe disgust so that a violator is shunned and considered socially unfit (Thompson & Gibbs, 2016). In most societies incest is considered a taboo.

Peter Berger’s 4 motifs of sociology

The debunking motif means that one’s mind will never be satisfied with a common answer and will seek to see beyond the surface or appearance of something.  Un-respectability motif means that if a person wants to have an understanding of the society, he or she must perceive the total social reality.  Relativization motif means a person is capable of imagining the world as different from how it appears. Cosmopolitan motif refers to the openness with which a person perceives things and acts without any prejudice.   

looking-glass self process

The process involves a person’s perception of himself determined by how he believes he is perceived by others and occurs in three steps: imagining how other people see us. While the image may be correct at times, it may also be wrong given that it’s based on a person’s imaginations; imagining how they judge us. People imagine what judgment others make of them; and then reacting to these imaginations.  Finally we alter our behavior or conduct on the basis of our reactions (Monaghan & Atkinson, 2016).

References

Thompson, W. E., & Gibbs, J. C. (2016). Deviance and deviants: A sociological approach. 7-9

Monaghan, L. F., & Atkinson, M. (2016). Challenging myths of masculinity: Understanding physical cultures. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. 133-137