Every individual who is surrounded by other people, when communicating or performing any type of activity, observes a set of informal rules. Only when they are fulfilled is it possible to maintain order and harmony in society, which 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 different their traditions, manner of communication and rules of conduct are. What is familiar to some may cause misunderstanding or condemnation in another country. For example, wearing a kilt in Scotland is customary and does not attract attention, but it is unlikely that a man wearing a skirt in Russia will be able to walk down the street unnoticed.
The same pattern can be traced within the same country. As an example, we can consider various youth subcultures, which are relatively small groups with unusual values for those around them.
Thus, it should be emphasized that group norms are a set of rules thatcompiled by the team in order to regulate relationships and behavior. Most of them are informal, which does not interfere with their observance.
The group norm must be adopted by the majority, and it is also aimed at achieving the set goals. The formation of each norm depends on the characteristics of the group: the size, homogeneity and personal characteristics of each of its members.
Accepting the norm
It is also impossible not to note the subjectivity of the standards, which cannot guarantee their acceptance by all representatives of the group.
Those people who do not want to obey the rules and do not live up to the expectations of the group can be punished by others. Most often, adolescents demonstrate refusal to comply with them, which is justified by a turning point in their development. There are two types of sanctions to encourage group members to want to be guided by norms:
- Positive - manifested in the form of encouragement of a person for compliance with the code. It can be praise, attention, respect for others, raising status and prestige.
- Negative - used in violation of the rules of society. With them, prohibitions or restrictions of various types are established, which lead to charitable 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 pen alty for non-compliance can be expulsion from the group.
The role of values in group acceptance
Group values are formed on the basis of generally accepted andchange depending on the interests of a particular group of people. They are the basis for the formation of historically established norms in the group and determine the strategy for the further advancement of society, while the developed rules mark the boundaries of what is permitted and desirable along this path.
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 for?
Each group norm goes through the test of time and does not change under the influence of a new situation. Those patterns of behavior that are entrenched bring the following privileges to the community.
- Strengthen the team, ensure its cohesion and unity of efforts.
- Reduce interpersonal conflict and discomfort caused by misunderstandings of others.
- Increase the predictability of the actions of group members and make it easier to predict group behavior.
- Increases community defenses and survival.
It was also important that, thanks to a clear formation, the group norm allows the individual to independently evaluate their own and other people's actions, compare them and draw conclusions about the correctness of behavior.
