Social norms are shared expectations of acceptable behavior by groups. Social norms can both be informal understandings that govern the behavior of members of a society, as well as be codified into rules and laws.  Norms are shared and social beliefs about behavior; thus, they are distinct from ideas , which can be held privately, and which do not necessarily concern behavior. Norms are contingent on context, social group  and historical circumstances. Institutions can be considered aggregations of multiple norms. Rules and norms are not necessarily distinct phenomena: both are standards of conduct that can have varying levels of specificity and formality. Laws are a highly formal version of norms. Laws, rules and norms may be contradictory; for example, a law may prohibit something but norms still allow it. A norm enshrined into a law may not necessarily be more binding than other forms of laws; for example, professional and legal norms may be more powerful. Norms are not the equivalent of an aggregation of individual attitudes. Ideas, attitudes and values are not necessarily norms, as these concepts do not necessarily concern behavior and may be held privately. "Prevalent behaviors" and behavioral regularities are not necessarily norms. Instinctual or biological reactions, personal tastes, and personal habits are not necessarily norms.
Social norms are shared expectations of acceptable behavior by groups. Social norms can both be informal understandings that govern the behavior of members of a society, as well as be codified into rules and laws. Institutions are composed of multiple norms. Norms are shared and social beliefs about behavior; thus, they are distinct from "ideas", "attitudes", and "values" , which can be held privately, and which do not necessarily concern behavior. Norms are contingent on context, social group , and historical circumstances. Institutions can be considered collections or clusters of multiple norms. Rules and norms are not necessarily distinct phenomena: both are standards of conduct that can have varying levels of specificity and formality. Laws are a highly formal version of norms. Laws, rules and norms may be contradictory; for example, a law may prohibit something but norms still allow it. A norm enshrined into a law may not necessarily be more binding than other forms of laws; for example, professional and legal norms may be more powerful. Norms are not the equivalent of an aggregation of individual attitudes. Ideas, attitudes and values are not necessarily norms, as these concepts do not necessarily concern behavior and may be held privately. "Prevalent behaviors" and behavioral regularities are not necessarily norms. Instinctual or biological reactions, personal tastes, and personal habits are not necessarily norms.
A
Institutions are composed of multiple norms.
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ideas
"ideas", "attitudes", and "values"
A
,
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aggregations
collections or clusters