Every individual who is surrounded by otherspeople, when communicating or performing any kind of activity, follow a set of informal rules. Only with their fulfillment is it possible to maintain order and harmony in society, and this means that the group norm becomes the key to its normal development.
What are group norms?
Paying attention to different cultures and nations,It is impossible not to notice how their traditions, manner of communication and rules of behavior differ. What is customary for some may cause misunderstanding or condemnation in another country. For example, wearing a kilt in Scotland is familiar and does not attract attention, but it is unlikely that a man wearing a skirt in Russia will be able to pass unnoticed through the street.
The same pattern can be traced inwithin one country. As an example, we can consider various youth subcultures, which are relatively small groups with unusual values for others.
Thus, it should be emphasized that groupnorms are a set of rules that a team drafted to regulate relationships and behavior. Most of them are informal, which does not interfere with their observance.
The group rule must be accepted by a majorityit also aims to achieve its goals. The formation of each norm depends on the characteristics of the group: the size, homogeneity and personal characteristics of each of its members.
Adoption of the norm
It is also necessary to note the subjectivity of standards, which cannot guarantee their acceptance by all members of the group.
Those people who do not want to obey the rules anddid not live up to the expectation of the group, can be punished by others. Adolescents most often refuse their observance, which is justified by a turning point in their development. To encourage group members to be willing to follow the rules, there are two types of sanctions:
- Positive - manifested in the form of rewards for compliance with the code. This can be praise, attention, respect for others, raising status and prestige.
- Negative - are used in violation of the rules of society. When they are established, prohibitions or restrictions of different types, which lead to the charity or ignoring the offender.
As a result, a person tries to control individual behavior as much as possible, adjusting it to the parameters. The maximum penalty for non-compliance may be expulsion from the group.
The role of values in the adoption of group norms
Group values are based ongenerally accepted and vary depending on the interests of a particular group of people. They are the basis for the formation in the group of historically established norms and determine the strategy for the further advancement of society, while the rules developed mark the boundaries of what is permitted and desired along the way.
As a result, group norms, values affect the same indicators of large social groups that regulate the development of society as a whole.
What are group norms needed for?
Each group norm passes through the test of time and does not change under the influence of the new situation. Those patterns of behavior that are fixed bring the following privileges to the community.
- Strengthen the team, ensure its cohesion and unity of effort.
- Reduce the number of interpersonal conflicts and discomfort caused by lack of understanding of others.
- Increase the predictability of actions of group members and facilitates the prediction of group behavior.
- Increases the protective abilities of communities and their survival.
It is also important that due toto a clear formation, the group norm allows an individual to independently assess his own and other people's actions, compare them and draw conclusions about the correctness of behavior.
