Question: What is a social norm?

Marjorie Pichon answered on 3 Mar 2021:

Hi Jessica, great question! Social norms are informal rules that we all live by in communities. Usually we don’t talk about them, they are just known. For example, waving and saying hello to someone we know when we pass them on the street is a social norm. These can be different in different parts of the world. They can also be good or bad. For example, saying hello to someone we know is a good social norm because it helps us all get along and live together peacefully. But a social norm like “children should be seen but not heard” is an example of a bad social norm because it can cause parents to ignore their children. In my job I help people understand why some of the social norms in their community are bad, and work to change them to good social norms.