首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Norms: Types and Acceptance Sociologists find that to understand a culture, it is very important to understand its norms. I. Def
Norms: Types and Acceptance Sociologists find that to understand a culture, it is very important to understand its norms. I. Def
admin
2013-01-24
49
问题
Norms: Types and Acceptance
Sociologists find that to understand a culture, it is very important to understand its norms.
I. Definition of Norms
They are the (1)______ standards of behaviour
maintained by a society.
II. Types of Norms
Norms are distinguished in two ways;
A. Formal and informal norms
Formal norms are generally (2) ______ and
involve strict rules for punishment of violators. One example is laws.
Informal norms are generally (3)______but are
not precisely recorded.
Standards of proper dress are an example.
B. Mores and folkways
Mores embody the most valuable (4)______of a
people and are regarded highly necessary to the welfare of a society. Examples are mores against (5)______ and treason.
Folkways govern (6)______and the violation of
them causes relatively little concern.
They are important in shaping people’s daily
behaviour. III. Acceptance of Norms
People in a culture normally follow its norms, but they are not followed in all situations.
A. In some cases, people evade a weakly-enforced norm.
(7)______is an example.
B. In some instances norms are violated because one norm (8)______with another.
For example, your intervening of your neighbour’s improper behaviour.
C. Any norm has (9)______.
Eavesdropping and self-defense are examples.
D. Acceptance of norms is subjected to (10)______.
Women’s role is an example.
Norms: Types and Acceptance
Good afternoon, everybody. Today we’ll go on with our discussion about "Elements of Culture". We have talked about the element of language, which is viewed by sociologists as the foundation of every culture. Now let’s look at the second element—norms.
What are norms? (1) Norms can be defined as the established standards of behaviour maintained by a society. Well, you know, all societies have ways of encouraging and enforcing what they view as appropriate behaviours while discouraging and punishing what they consider to be improper conducts. For example, respect for older people is a norm found in China. "Put on some clean clothes for dinner" is a norm followed in America. Bowing deeply to each other when meeting and saying good-bye to people is a norm practised in Japan. These are all norms.
In order for a norm to become significant, it must be widely shared and understood. For example, when we go to the movies, we typically expect that people will be quiet while the film is showing. Because of this norm, if a member of the audience talks loudly, he may be asked to lower his voice. And when we go to school or go to work, we are expected to be punctual. If someone is late, he or she may feel uneasy and should say sorry to others.
Now we’ll have a look at the types of norms. Sociologists distinguish norms in two ways. First, norms can be classified as formal and informal. (2) Formal norms have generally been written down and involve strict rules for punishment of violators. Laws are an example of formal norms, because in a political sense, the law is the body of rules, made by government for society, interpreted by the courts, and backed by the state. Besides, the requirements for a college major and rules of a card game are also formal norms.
By contrast, (3) informal norms are generally understood but are not precisely recorded. Standards of proper dress are a common example of informal norms. Our society has no specific punishment or sanction if a student comes to college dressed quite differently from every one else. The most likely response is that he or she might be made fun of by other students for his or her unusual choice of clothing.
Second, norms are also classified by their relative importance to society. When classified this way, they are known as mores and folkways. (4) Mores are norms that are regarded highly necessary to the welfare of a society, often because they embody the most valuable principles of a people. Each society demands obedience to its mores, and violation can lead to severe penalties. (5) For example, our society has strong mores against murder and treason.
Folkways are norms governing everyday behaviour whose violation raises relatively little concern. For example, walking up a " down" escalator in a department store challenges our standards of appropriate behaviour, but it will not result in a fine or a jail sentence. Folkways play an important role in shaping the daily behaviour of members of a culture.
OK, how do people accept norms? Now we’ll talk about the acceptance of norms. (7) First, norms, whether mores or folkways, are not followed in all situations. In some cases, people evade a norm because they know it is weakly enforced. For example, although smoking on public is forbidden, we often find people smoking in buses or other public places.
Second, norms are violated in some instances because one norm conflicts with another. For example, suppose you live in an apartment building and one night you hear the screams of the woman next door. She is being beaten by her husband. If you decided to intervene by calling the police, you are violating the norm of " mind your own business" or "don’t interfere with other family’s business" , while at the same time you are following the norm of "assisting a victim of violence".
Then, even when norms do not conflict, there are always exceptions to any norm. The same action, under different circumstances, can cause one to be viewed either as a hero or as a villain. For example, eavesdropping on telephone conversation is normally considered illegal or mean, but it can be done by the police to obtain valid evidence for a criminal trial. Even killing another human being is tolerated as a form of self-defense and is actually rewarded in warfare.
Acceptance of norms is also subjected to change, as the political, economic, and social conditions of a culture are transformed. For example, under traditional norms, a woman was expected to marry, rear children, and remain at home if her husband could support the family. However, these norms have been changing in recent decades, and more and more women are ready to or encouraged to have her own career and support the family together with her husband. As support for traditional norms weakens, people will feel free to violate them more frequently and openly and will be less likely to receive serious negative sanctions for doing so.
Well, time is almost up for today’s lecture. To sum up, norms are established standards of behaviour maintained by a society. They are distinguished in two ways, that is, formal or informal norms according to their formality, and mores and folkways according to their relative importance to society. People in a culture normally follow its norms, but acceptance of norms differs in different situations and social conditions. Next time we’ll go on with other elements of culture, sanctions and values. See you then.
选项
答案
everyday behaviour/normal behaviour
解析
根据句(6)可知,民俗是约束人们日常行为的准则,相对而言,人们违反了民俗也不会引起太大的关注,故答案为everyday behavior/normal behavior。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/ugaO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
ThefirstsettlementinAustraliawasmadebythe______.
ThenameAustraliacomesfromtheLatinwordsmeaning______.
HowoftendidtheHeadofGovernmentoftheCommonwealthusuallymeetforexchangeofideas?
Britain,underaLabourgovernment,consideredditching(givingup)itsnucleardeterrentasawayofmakingcrucialsavingsto
TessoftheDurbervilleswaswrittenby______.
OnlywhichlakeamongthefivelakesbelongtoAmericacompletelywhiletheotherfoursharedwithCanada?
Anyonewhotrainsanimalsrecognizesthathumanandanimalperceptualcapacitiesaredifferent.Formosthumans,seeingisbelie
Eveniftheyproducednootherpositiveresult,theattacksontheLondonUndergroundhavecompelledEuropeansofallfaithsto
HealthregulatorsonFridaydetainednineshipmentsoforangejuicefromBrazilandCanadathatcontainedtracesofanillegalf
AbrahamLincolnturns200thisyear,andhe’sbeginningtoshowhisage.Whenhisbirthdayarrives,onFebruary12,Congresswil
随机试题
我国公务员的衔级直接对应
A.肠黏膜多发浅溃疡伴充血、水肿B.肠腔内多处息肉,形态不规则C.肠黏膜充血、水肿、环形溃疡,其边缘鼠咬状D.肠黏膜裂隙样深溃疡E.回盲部溃疡伴息肉以上哪项为溃疡样结肠炎较常见的镜下表现
心脏性猝死最早出现的是
系统级初始化内容主要包括()。
《证券业从业人员执业行为准则》于2009年1月9日由()正式颁布实施。
下列关于提存的说法,错误的是()。
根据《国内航空运输承运人赔偿责任限额规定》,对每名旅客随身携带物品的赔偿责任限额为()。
2004年3月15日,洪海市雅居房地产公司合法取得位于市区的能够进行商品房开发#3地块的土地使用权,2006年3月,该#3地块上开发出“海滨雅居”进行销售,甲花费60万元在“海滨雅居”购得一套住房。入住使用后,甲发现房屋由于设计错误存在严重的结构缺陷。在与
依次填入下列各句横线处的词语,恰当的一组是()。①这位发言人______指出,美方对这次撞机事件必须承担全部责任,向中国人民作出交代,并防止类似事件再次发生。②尽管这只是一次______,但民警与保安的迅速出击,表明本市第一个进
Foryears,French,ItalianandAmericanluxurybrandshave【C1】______asChina’smiddleclassdevelopeda(n)【C2】______forhigh-en
最新回复
(
0
)