Norm (philosophy)

Norms are ideas about how to act.

They do not just say how things are. Instead, they say how things should be. Some norms are commands. Others are ways we are allowed to act.

Norms can help us play games. Rules for soccer help us play the game. Without those rules, the game would not exist.

People also use norms to live together. We might follow rules to be kind. This helps us in our daily lives.

Many people wonder if animals have norms too. It is a big question for thinkers to study.

Norms are special ideas about how we should act. They do not just describe the world. Instead, they tell us how things ought to be.

Some norms are commands or rules. These are called deontic norms. They tell us what we must do or what we are allowed to do. Other norms are called constitutive norms. These create things like games or social groups. For example, the rules of soccer make soccer possible. Without those rules, you could not play the game. Even language uses norms. In English, we agree that the word "cat" means a furry pet.

People use norms to live together in groups. Some norms are written as laws. Other norms are just part of our culture. You might see people following unwritten rules on a subway. Some thinkers also study how we learn these norms. One study showed that children often copy what they see others do. This shows how much social norms can shape our behavior. Some people even wonder if animals have norms too. This is a big question that thinkers still debate today.

Norms are special ideas in philosophy. They do not just describe how the world is. Instead, they suggest how the world should be. A norm is like a reason to act, feel, or believe. Many people call these "ought-to" statements. They are different from facts that just say what is happening. For example, a fact says "the sky is blue." A norm might say "you should be kind." This makes norms very important for how we live.

There are different ways that norms work. Some are called deontic norms. These create duties or permissions. They tell you what you must do or what you may do. Other norms are called constitutive norms. These create new things like games or social groups. Without the rules of soccer, you could not have an indirect free kick. These rules make the action possible. Even language works this way. In English, we use the word "cat" for a certain animal. This is a norm that everyone follows to understand each other.

Philosophers have studied these ideas for a very long time. Some thinkers, like Aristotle, looked at how norms relate to what people desire. There are also many debates about whether norms are true or false. Some say they are just successful or unsuccessful. Others say norms are not about facts at all. They say norms bring something "unworldly" or artificial into our lives. This means norms are things humans create together. They are not just parts of the natural world like rocks or trees.

We can see norms in our daily lives through social rules. Some are explicit laws that bring rewards or punishments. Others are implicit, which means they are unwritten. You might see people following unwritten rules on a subway. There is also a norm called reciprocity. This is when people respond to what others do. One way is called "door in the face." This is when someone asks for something big first. When they ask for something smaller, people are more likely to say yes.

Scientists also study how we learn these social norms. In 1961, a researcher named Bandura did a study at Stanford University. He looked at 36 boys and 36 girls. He wanted to see if children copy what they observe. Some children saw an aggressive role model with a Bobo doll. Other children saw a non-aggressive model with a tea set. The children who saw the aggressive model acted more violently. This showed how much we are influenced by the behavior of others.

In philosophy, norms are concepts that focus on practical action. They are not just descriptions of how the world is. Instead, they are oriented toward how things should be. A norm can be seen as a reason to act, to believe, or to feel. Philosophers often distinguish between descriptive statements and normative ones. A descriptive statement says what "is," such as "the sky is blue." A normative statement implies what "ought to be," such as "you should be honest." This distinction is central to understanding how humans organize their lives and values.

Norms function through different mechanisms depending on their purpose. Deontic norms are those that create obligations, duties, or permissions. They tell an individual what they must do or what they are allowed to do. An earlier understanding of norms focused only on imperatives, or commands. However, philosophy of law and ethics expanded this to include permissions. Another type is constitutive norms, which create new types of actions or social institutions. For example, the rules of soccer are constitutive because without them, an "indirect free kick" would not exist. These norms do not just regulate behavior; they make certain activities possible.

There are several distinct categories of norms used to organize society. Some norms are power-conferring, also called norms of competence. These are legal norms that give a person the authority to create other norms. Other norms establish national symbols, such as a national anthem. While an anthem does not create a direct duty, it changes the meaning of singing it. Linguistic conventions are also vital norms. The agreement that the English word "cat" refers to a specific animal is a norm. Without these shared conventions, social and legal communication would fail.

Historically, philosophers have debated the very nature of these concepts. Aristotle suggested that the truth of a prescriptive statement relates to right desire. In modern times, some thinkers argue that norms are not "true" or "false" like facts. Instead, they might be described as "successful" or "unsuccessful." This is because norms aim to achieve a result rather than describe a reality. There is also a long-standing debate regarding the "naturalistic fallacy." This idea, associated with G.E. Moore, suggests one cannot derive "good" or "bad" from natural facts alone. This implies that norms bring something artificial or institutional into a natural world.

Social norms can be divided into injunctive and descriptive types. Injunctive social norms represent what a group believes should be done. An example is the idea that one should be kind to parents or give up a seat for a pregnant person. Descriptive social norms represent what a group actually does, even if it is not required. For instance, jaywalking or drinking in public are behaviors people observe happening. These norms help regulate social life through either explicit laws or implicit cultural conventions. Explicit laws use rewards or punishments, while implicit norms are unwritten social expectations.

Psychologists have studied how these norms influence human behavior through social learning. In 1961, Albert Bandura conducted a famous study at Stanford University. He worked with 36 boys and 36 girls to see if they would imitate observed behavior. Some children watched an aggressive model interacting with a "Bobo doll." Others watched a non-aggressive model with a tea set. The children who observed the aggressive model showed more violent responses. This research demonstrated how strongly social norms and role models shape how children act.

Norms also appear in human social strategies, such as the norm of reciprocity. This is the tendency to respond to an action with a similar action. One specific strategy is called "door in the face." In this method, a person asks for a very large request that will likely be refused. When they follow up with a much smaller request, the other person is more likely to agree. This happens because humans have a natural desire to be liked and to return concessions. Understanding norms helps explain why people follow laws, play games, and interact in complex social systems.