What term refers to rules that govern behavior in social contexts but are not codified as laws?

What term refers to rules that govern behavior in social contexts but are not codified as laws?

• A. Informal norms
• B. Formal norms
• C. Laws
• D. Sanctions

Answer: (A)

Informal norms are unwritten expectations that guide how people behave in social settings, including within sports teams and everyday interactions. They aren’t codified into laws or official rules, so they’re learned through socialization and reinforced by how others respond rather than by legal penalties. In a sports context, informal norms shape things like how teammates greet each other, how players handle referees’ calls, fair play, and supportive behavior after a mistake. Violating these expectations can lead to informal sanctions such as criticism, loss of reputation, or social exclusion, rather than legal consequences. This distinguishes informal norms from formal norms, which are written rules—like league or organizational policies—enforced with formal sanctions such as fines or suspensions. Sanctions, in turn, are the responses to norm violations and can be either informal or formal, depending on whether the rule violated is unwritten or written.

Informal norms are unwritten expectations that guide how people behave in social settings, including within sports teams and everyday interactions. They aren’t codified into laws or official rules, so they’re learned through socialization and reinforced by how others respond rather than by legal penalties. In a sports context, informal norms shape things like how teammates greet each other, how players handle referees’ calls, fair play, and supportive behavior after a mistake. Violating these expectations can lead to informal sanctions such as criticism, loss of reputation, or social exclusion, rather than legal consequences.

This distinguishes informal norms from formal norms, which are written rules—like league or organizational policies—enforced with formal sanctions such as fines or suspensions. Sanctions, in turn, are the responses to norm violations and can be either informal or formal, depending on whether the rule violated is unwritten or written.