Social norms are the unwritten rules of acceptable behavior in a group or society. There are several major types of social norms, including private norms relating to individuals and families, group norms that govern specific organizations, associational norms of companies and institutions, and national norms prescribed by countries. In Nepal, some examples of social norms include using the greeting of Namaste, not wearing shoes in homes or temples, using the right hand for giving and receiving, and dressing modestly especially for women in rural areas.

1. ORGANIZING SOCIAL LIFE
SOCIAL NORMS AND VALUES

2. Introduction
• Social norms, or mores, are the unwritten
rules of behavior that are considered
acceptable in a group or society. ... Norms can
change according to the environment,
situation, and culture in which they are found,
and people's behavior willgroups.
Examples: don’t kill, be honest, shaking hands
etc.

3. Robert Bierstadt - A norm is a rule or standard
that governs our conduct in the social situations
in which we participate.
Some social situations:
 Meeting new people
 Talking to co-workers or friends.
 Inviting others to do things.
 Going to social events (e.g. parties or dinners)
 Dating.
 Being assertive.
 Expressing opinions.
 Talking on the phone- norms like Don’t disturb
others.

4. Major types of Norms
Private Norms
NORM
S
Group Norms National Norms
Associational
Norms

5. 1. Private Norms
• It means the individual and family norms
according to its nature mediated through
caste, class, ethnicity, religion and
geographical location.
• Example:
Individual norms as an citizen- obeying law,
patriotism, moral courage etc.
Family norms- valuing the elders, eating
together, helping each other etc.

6. 2. Group norms
• Each groups develops own norms in order to
meet their requirements. A literary group can
have the norms of listeners and readers.
Group norms differs according to its goal and
subject like:
- Game and sport group, religious group, socail
work group etc.

7. 3. Associational norms
• Associational norms refers the norms of
company, institutions, organization.
• It cherish the goal of organization and develop
the smooth functioning.
• Different associations develop their own
autonomous rules and regulations for their
own convenience.
• Eg. Norms of school, offices like bank, political
parties etc.

8. 4. National Norms
• It is a macro level prescription by state or country.
• And independent and sovereign state has its own
original norms and values .
• National norms are internalized and transmitted
to young generation through curricula, religions,
national and sub national broad casting agencies,
• It helps to shape the personalities of citizen in
uniformed way.
• Some national norms example: patriotism,
respecting each other, following the law etc.

9. • Namaste (joining two palms of hand) is the form of greeting in
Nepal.
• Wearing shoes while entering someone’s house or religious and
meditating sites might be regarded as disrespectful.
• It is better to use right hand to give or take goods than using left
hand.
• Touching people or stuffs with feet is discourteous.
• Walking around the monasteries, stupa and temple is done in
clockwise direction.
• It is more appropriate to receive permission or look out for signs
before taking photographs at religious places.
• Leather stuffs like belt, shoes, wallet, jacket etc are forbidden inside
the temples.
• The entry of non- hindu or foreigner is disallowed in some temples.
• Dress modestly. It is better not to wear revealing dresses by women
especially in rural areas of Nepal.
• Food touched by ones mouth is regarded impure (jutho) therefore
is not accepted except among close friends and family.
• Do not leave any valuable stuffs like mobile, camera, laptop, wallet
etc out in the open while travelling without any security.