Mores and folkways

This Ppt will give you a basic understanding on the social norms.The difference between Mores and Folkways and why people are following these norms .

1. Prepared by Md Rajik Hussen MSW 1 year Pondicherry University MORES AND FOLKWAYS

2. Mores and Folkways Mores and folkways are the two chief means of exercising social control. They are the social norms What is social Norms According to Young & Mack: Norms refers to the group shared expectation According to Lesh,Larson & Goerman: Social norms are rules developed by a group of people that specify how people must,should,may,should not &must not behave in various situation Social norms are the code of ethics

3. MORES Definitions of Mores... According to Gillin & Gillin: Mores are those customs and group routines which are thought by the members of society to be necessary to the groups continued existence The must behaviour is called mores Examples of Mores : Respect for the parents Wearing cloths Entering into other’s house without permission

4. Types of Mores Positive Mores Negative Mores Positive Mores: It Always prescribe behaviour pattern . They represent the “Do’s”. They give instructions and provide guidance for the people to behave in a particular way . E xamples: Respecting Elders Protecting children Loving one’s country Speaking the truth

5. Negative Mores: Negative Mores prescribe behaviour pattern . They represent the “Don’t”. Also called “Taboos”. Taboos forbid or prohibit a certain behaviour patterns . Examples: Don’t steal Don’t tell lies Don’t be irreligious Don’t be cruel to the wife and children

6. Characteristics of Mores Following are the main characteristics of mores: Mores carry a sense of moral obligation. Lack of the observance of mores carries social disapproval and there is provision of some kind of punishment Mores are socially accepted and it is obligatory to observe them Folkways tend to become mores Distinguish between right and wrong

7. Folkways Definitions of Folkways… According to G illin and Gillin: Folkways are behaviour patterns of every day life which generally arise unconsciously in a group A mode of thinking , feeling or acting common to a given group of people Example of Folkways: Correct manners Appropriate dress Proper eating behaviour Shaking hands and embracing while meeting

8. Characteristics of Folkways Spontaneous Origin: Folkways arise spontaneously. They are not deliberately planned or designed. Approved behavior : Folkways are the recognized ways of behavior . The group accords recognition to certain way while rejects others Distinctiveness-  There is numerous folkways in different societies ,the folkways become related to a particular group. There is considerable variation in the folkways between groups. Hereditary-  Folkways are passed on from one generation to another. An individual receives folkways from his ancestors.

9. Importance of Folkways Folkways have following important features:- Folkways act as guide to social behaviour Folkways exercise restraint and control on social conduct Folkways keep modifying to melt the changes of time and place. Old folkways give way to new, but this happens gradually. Folkways have conservative influence in a society.

10. Difference between Mores & Folkways Mores Mores are moral customs and traditions that are shared by a group of people that makes up a society Mores are social conventions that are morally significant Folkways F olkways are habits of individuals or of a group of people which have been accepted & by its members & eventually became accepted as a way of life Folkways are informal social conventions with no moral significance

11. Cont … M ores “Mores” comes from Latin. Mores represent the values of a group Mores are stricter F olkways “Folkways was introduced by American Sociologist ‘William Graham Sumner’. Folkways are the feelings , thinking and actions of a group Folkways are less strict

12. Similarities between Mores & Folkways Both folkways and mores instruct people on how they should act Both terms were first used during the early 1900s Both folkways and mores were developed from the peoples habitual actions and not from society’s laws

13. Conclusion At last it may conclude that mores and folkways are the social laws. These laws have an obligatory character which constrains the members of a society to follow these. These are the means of social control that’s why it may change from place to place or people to people

14. References Social change and social control - Rajendra k. Sharma C. N. Shankar Rao - Sociology Principles of Sociology with an Introduction to Social Thought Internet