Page 19 - Flipbook: Sociology Shortcuts Issue 3

norms Specific behavioural

guides that tell people how

Norms are behavioural rules used to perform
roles predictably and acceptably - and this is to successfully play a role.
important, according to Merton (1938),
because without order and predictability
behaviour becomes precarious and
confusing and people experience what he
called anomie. Where people fail to
understand the norms operating in a
particular situation they are pushed to react
in a range of ways, from confusion, through beliefs
anger to fear. One aspect of mental illness,
for example, is an inability to recognise and
follow norms - which makes it difficult for
someone who is not mentally ill to interact A further layer of cultural structuring
successfully with such people. involves beliefs: fundamental, deep-rooted,
ideas that both shape our values and are, in
Goffman (1959) argues that norms are more some respects, shaped by these values.
open to interpretation and negotiation than
either roles or values and this makes them While all values express a belief, beliefs do
flexible behavioural guides that can quickly not necessarily express a value. They are, in
adapt to changes in the social environment. this respect, more general behavioural
guidelines in the sense they involve things
There are, for example, many different ways like ideas, opinions, convictions and
to successfully play a teaching role, attitudes that may or may not be true
depending on a range of personal and (something may be objectively untrue but
cultural factors, including the behaviour of still believed).
those in the teacher's role-set. While some
teachers interpret their role as strict What matters is that something is believed to
disciplinarians and others adopt a more- be true. While beliefs in modern societies
friendly approach these interpretations are are many and varied they perform a
not set in stone; even the strictest teacher significant structuring role when they are
may relax their approach at certain times. combined into systems of interrelated beliefs
or ideologies.
Roles, values and norms provide an
important social framework within which
relationships can be ordered and made
broadly predictable.

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