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The Dark Side of Social Standards

Group of people, herdlike, walking around, sketch, with colour 4

Mores and folkways shape cultural expectations, regardless of their position on the hypothetical moral spectrum. But what exactly are they?

  • ‘Mores’ (pronounced “more-rays”) in social psychology refer to the socially accepted and preferred behaviours within any given society. They are a stronger variant of norms, encapsulating more fundamental behavioural habits. Mores are the traditional customs and behavioural codes that are generally followed within a specific location or group, even though they aren’t formalised by law. They are seen as inherently right and significantly influence the behaviour of individuals within a community. Mores are usually passed down from one generation to the next, and while they may evolve over time, they generally remain stable. They are typically unwritten but universally understood within a community. Violating a more can lead to severe social disapproval.
  • ‘Folkways’, on the other hand, are the daily habits that people in a society adhere to. They aren’t as serious as mores, but they still hold importance. They are like unwritten rules about everyday things such as what to wear or how to eat. If you break these rules, it might not be well-received by others. Folkways can change in four main ways:
    • Secularisation: Folkways become less significant.
    • Diffusion: Folkways spread to other groups.
    • Assimilation: New groups begin to adopt the folkways.
    • Persistence: Folkways remain unchanged over time.

People consider a norm to be innocuous. It establishes a standard that dictates whether an act is permissible or to be avoided. I would prefer to label this standard as a Universally Accepted Confirmation Bias. The underlying assumption is, “If everyone else does it, if society deems it moral, then I must also consider it moral”. In this way, norms, through their acceptance and the ease of herd mentality, seep into corruption. Even if an individual perceives a particular norm to be detrimental to societal progress or harmful to a specific demographic, the fear of being viewed as an outsider prevents the individual from openly adopting a contrary stance.

Cultural norms are arbitrary constructs that fluctuate depending on the volatility of public opinion and the eventfulness of the era. All one needs to do is delve into a collection of history books, explore educational videos on YouTube, browse through Wikipedia, or engage in self-education through any preferred medium. One will easily uncover various corrupt norms (slavery, segregation, gender inequality, homophobia, religious persecution, to name a few broad examples) that were once widely accepted but are now deemed reprehensible.

On a more positive note, the recent shift in the norm of women wearing trousers, which was once frowned upon, is an example of an old norm evolving into a new norm with a more open-minded sentiment. Similarly, the use of protection during sexual intercourse, at least in the Western secular world, is no longer considered immoral, a stark contrast to the harsh negative perception it received just a century ago. This type of transition deserves commendation as it provides ample protection against diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Many non-secular countries oppose such measures despite their benefits, resulting in these societies harbouring corrupt norms that lack scientific backing. On a micro level, something as harmless as farting in public is frowned upon. While it won’t land you in prison, people might view you as a disgrace. But why? Don’t we all fart? Who decided it was unacceptable or disrespectful? What’s the logic behind this norm (to not fart in public)? There isn’t any.

From the book, Denial.

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