norms

Examples of norms in the following topics:

• Conformity

  • In psychology, conformity is defined as the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.
  • In psychology, conformity is defined as the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.
  • There are two major motivators to conformity: normative influence and informational influence.
  • Both men and women will conform to current norms in order to be accepted by society and avoid social rejection.
  • Sherif suggested this was a reflection of how social norms develop in larger society.

• Gender and Sociology

  • Scholars generally regard gender as a social construct, meaning that it does not exist naturally but is instead a concept that is created by cultural and societal norms.
  • Gender roles are based on norms, or standards, created by society.
  • Each agent reinforces gender roles by creating and maintaining normative expectations for gender-specific behavior.
  • This threat of punishment for stepping outside of gender norms is especially true for those who do not identify as male or female.
  • People who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer are also ostracized for breaking the traditional gender norm of who a person of a given sex "should" be attracted to.

• Cultural Influences on Sexual Motivation

  • The sociocultural context of society, which includes all social and cultural factors from politics and religion to the mass media, not only creates social norms, but also places major influence on the conformity to these norms.
  • These norms dictate what is considered to be acceptable behavior.
  • Different cultures vary in regard to these norms, including how they understand and perceive sexuality; how they influence the artistic expression of sexual beauty ; how they understand gender norms related to sexuality; and how they interpret and/or judge particular sexual behaviors, such as homosexuality .
  • With the advent of patriarchal societies, gender roles around sexuality became much more stringent, and sexual norms began focusing on sexual possessiveness and the control of female sexuality.

• Standardized Tests

  • Standardized test scores are evaluated in two ways: relative to a specific scale or criterion ("criterion-referenced") or relative to the rest of the test-takers ("norm-referenced").
  • Some recent standardized tests incorporate both criterion-referenced and norm-referenced elements in to the same test.
  • For example, the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and ACT (American College Test) are norm-referenced tests used to help admissions officers decide whether to admit students to their college or university.
  • Norm-referenced standardized tests are also one of the factors in deciding if students are eligible for special-education or gifted-and-talented programs.

• Influences of Culture and Gender in Psychotherapy

  • Cultural and gender norms significantly shape how mental illness as well as therapy and various other treatment methods are perceived.
  • Those who favor multicultural therapy models focus on cultural specificity—that therapy should be adapted to specific cultures due to differing cultural norms, expectations, and identities.
  • This sociocultural perspective integrates the impact of cultural and social norms, starting at the beginning of treatment.

• Abnormal Psychology

  • If you felt extremely depressed—so much so that you lost interest in activities, had difficulty eating or sleeping, felt utterly worthless, and contemplated suicide—your feelings would be atypical, would deviate from the norm, and could signify the presence of a psychological disorder.
  • It is also important to recognize that cultural norms change over time: what might be considered typical in a society at one time may no longer be viewed that way later—similar to how fashion trends from one era may elicit quizzical looks decades later.
  • Inner experiences and behaviors that are atypical or violate social norms could signify the presence of a disorder.

• Influences of Culture and Gender on Personality

  • Within a culture there are norms and behavioral expectations.
  • These cultural norms can dictate which personality traits are considered important.
  • In much the same manner that cultural norms can influence personality and behavior, gender norms (the behaviors that males and females are expected to conform to in a given society) can also influence personality by emphasizing different traits between different genders.

• Human Sexuality and Culture

  • The sociocultural context of society—which includes all social and cultural factors, from politics and religion to the mass media—not only creates social norms, but also places major importance on conformity to these norms.
  • Norms dictate what is considered to be acceptable behavior; what is considered normal or acceptable in terms of sexual behavior is based on the norms, mores, and values of the particular society.
  • Different cultures vary in regard to norms, including how they understand and perceive sexuality, how they influence the artistic expression of sexual beauty, how they understand the relationship between gender and sexuality, and how they interpret and/or judge particular sexual behaviors (such as premarital sex, the age of sexual consent, homosexuality, masturbation, etc.).
  • With the advent of patriarchal societies, gender roles around sexuality became much more stringent, and sexual norms began focusing on sexual possessiveness and the control of female sexuality.

• Altruism: Helping

  • Reciprocal actions are important to social psychology as they can help explain the maintenance of social norms.
  • Distinguish among the social-exchange theory, the reciprocity norm, and the empathy-altruism hypothesis of altruism

• Cultural and Societal Influences on Child Development

  • The normative approach to development examines the question "What is normal development?"
  • In the early decades of the 20th century, normative psychologists studied large numbers of children at various ages to determine the average ages at which most children reach specific physical, cognitive, and psychosocial milestones in development (Gesell, 1933, 1939, 1940; Gesell & Ilg, 1946; Hall, 1904).
  • Different parenting styles influence children differently depending on cultural norms and standards.