University of Toronto (UofT) SOC100H1 Introduction to Sociology I – Sociological Perspectives Practice Exam

The expected ways of acting and speaking in the context of social interaction are referred to as "norms." Norms are the informal understandings that govern the behavior of members of a society. They represent the rules and expectations that dictate how individuals should behave in various social contexts, shaping social interactions and maintaining order. For example, norms can dictate how to greet someone, how to dress for different occasions, or how to behave in a public setting.

While roles refer to the positions individuals occupy in society that come with specific expectations, and scripts represent the specific verbal and non-verbal behaviors expected in a particular scenario, norms provide the broader context within which roles and scripts operate. Props typically refer to objects used in social contexts that help convey meaning or facilitate interactions but do not embody the expectations surrounding behaviors. Hence, norms are fundamental to understanding the framework of social interactions.