Folkways are norms governing everyday behavior. Society is less likely to formalize folkways than mores, and their violation raises comparatively little concern. Sanctions are penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm. Conformity to a norm can lead to positive sanctions such as a pay raise, a medal, a word of gratitude or a pat on the back. Negative sanctions include fines, threats, imprisonment and stares of contempt.
Values influence people's behavior and serve as criteria for evaluating the actions of others.
There is often a direct relationship among the values, norms and sanctions of a culture. Conflict theorists agree that a common culture may exist, but they argue that it serves to maintain the privileges of some groups rather than others. The term dominant ideology describes the set of cultural beliefs and practices that help to maintain powerful social, economic and political interests. From a conflict perspective, the dominant ideology has major social significance. A subculture is a segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of mores, folkways and values that differ from the patterns of the larger society.