Folkways Definition example Nature Social importance

Mores Definition Types Nature and characteristics Difference between folkways and mores

Folkways-Mores-Customs

Customs Definition Nature Social importance

The term folkways was introduced into sociological literature by W.G.Sumner in a book with the title-Folkways published in 1906.

The word means literally, the ways of the folk. Folks means people and Ways refers to their behavioural habits.

Folkways are the accepted ways of behaviour.

Folkways

Definition According to Sumner, folkways represent

man’s unique means of adapting himself to the environment.

Gillin and Gillin say that “Folkways are behaviour patterns of everyday life which generally arise unconsciously in a group.”

Lundberg has said that “Folkways are the typical or habitual beliefs, attitudes and styles of conduct observed within a group or community.”

In simple word, ‘folkways’ can be understood as “repetitive petty acts of the people.”

The ways of eating, talking, dressing, playing, walking, greeting, conversing, expressing love and affection, etc. reprsent

folkways.

Example

1. Social in nature Folkways are the products of man’s

group life.

2. Repetitive in character A social practice becomes a folkway when

majority of people observe it constantly and regularity.

Nature of Folkways

3. Unplanned origin The origin of folkways are very obscure. Sumner believed that they arise

automatically and unconsciously. They are not the result of any advance

planning. Someone in the group starts a new way

May be a hairstyle, a dress style, a conversational style.

4. Informal enforcement

Folkways constitute one of the type of informal means of social control.

Folkways are not as compulsive and obligatory as that of law or morals.

Ex. One who does not brush his teeth regularly and properly , it is not going to be punished by law.

One can neglect and violate one or a few of the folkways but no same person can neglect and violate all of them.

5.folkways differ a lot Folkways differ from group to group and

society to society. Folkways vary with age and sex in almost all

the place

Ex. women hair style; long or short

6.Folkways are numerous It is not possible for anyone to enlist all the

folkways.

7.Folkways are subject to change Folkways change with changing social

condition. Some folkways undergo rapid change Sumner called them ‘fashions.’

The folkways are the foundation of every culture.

Folkways have reduced much of our mental strain and nervous tension by helping us to handle social relations in a comfortable way.

Sumner believed that “the life of society consists of making folkways and applying them. The science of society must be constructed as the study of them.”

Social importance of folkways

Universal characteristics of human societies They contribute to the order and stability of

social relation. Human infants learn the folkways through

the elders as naturally as they grow older. Infants learn different folkways as different

stage . Folkways control informally the society.

The mores represent yet another category of norms.

Mores is a term used to denote behaviour patterns which are not only accepted but are prescribed.

All of the folkways are not equally important.

Some of them become more compulsive and regulators of behaviour are normally referred to as mores.

Mores

According to R.M. MacIver and C.H.Page, “When the folkways have added to them conception of group welfare, standards of right and wrong, they are converted into mores.”

Gillin and Gillin say that “Mores are those customs and group routines which are thought by the members of the society to be necessary to the group’s continued existence.”

Definition of mores

In simple words we can say when the folkways clearly represent the group standard, the group sense of what is fitting, right, and conductive to well-being then they become mores.

1. Positive mores Positive mores always ‘prescribe’ behaviour

patterns. They represent the ‘do’s. They give instructions and provide guidance

for the people to behave in a particular way. Ex. Respecting elders, protecting children,

doing service to the society, etc.

Types of mores

Negative mores

Negative mores ‘prescribe’ behaviour patterns.

They represent the ‘don’ts. They are often called ‘taboos’ Ex. Don’t appear before the people without

dress, Don’t be cruel to the wife and children

1.Mores are the regulators of your social life.

Mores represent the living character of the group or community.

They put restrictions on our behaviour 2. Mores are relatively more persistent

Mores are relatively long lasting than ordinary folkways.

Nature and characteristics of mores

Ex. People at one time resisted the efforts of the law-makers to abolish the so-called morals such as slavery, child marriage etc.

3. Mores vary from group to group Mores have not always been uniform. What is prescribed in one group is

prohibited in another. Ex. some practise strictly monogamy,

whereas others practise polygamy, and so on.

4.Mores are backed by values and religion

Mores normally receive the sanction and backing of values and religion.

Mores backed by religious sanction are strongly justified by people.

1.Mores are relatively wider and more general in character than the folkways.

2. Mores imply a value-judgement about the folkways.

3. Out of the mores comes our profound conviction of right and wrong and not out of the folkways.

4. An individual may disobey the ordinary folkways without incurring and severe punishment. But violation of the mores brings him strong disapproval and severe punishment.

Folkways and mores: Differences

5. Mores are more compulsive, regulative and rigid than the folkways. Hence, Mores are more effective and influential in moulding our character and restricting our tendencies.

6. As Sumner has suggested when the folkways take on a philosophy of right living and a life policy of welfare, folkways become mores. Hence the mores always contain a welfare element in them.

7. Folkways are less deeply rooted in society and change more rapidly. On the other hand, mores are deeply rooted in society and changes less frequently.

Like folkways and mores, ‘customs’ also represent one of the types of informal means of social control.

They are as universal and pervasive as those of folkways and mores.

Customs are the socially accepted ways in which people do things together in personal contacts.

Ex. Such accepted procedures or practice of eating, conversing, meeting people, training the young, caring for the aged, playing, working, etc.

Customs

According to MacIver and Page, “The socially accredited ways of acting are the customs of society.”

Duncan Mitchell in his ‘Dictionary of Sociology’ writes: “The term ‘customs’ refers to established modes of thought and action.”

Definition of customs

Lundberg says that customs are those “folkways that persist over relatively long periods of times so as to attain a degree of informal recognition and so as to be passed down from one generation to another.”

In simple word, customs are the long established habits and usages of the people.

1.Customs is a social phenomenon

Customs are the oft-repeated of the practices of the people.

They represent the routine acts of daily life of the people.

Customs are the created by the groups, associations, communities and institutions.

Nature of customs

2. Customs are followed by people mostly unconsciously

As MacIver and Page have pointed out, “We conform to the customs of our own society , in a sense, ‘unconsciously’.”

Because they are a strongly imbedded part of our group life.

Humans infants learn the customs by imitation or direct instruction.

3. Customs are varied in nature

Though customs are universal in nature they differ from community to community and society to society.

Ex. The customary dressing at occasions such as marriage and funeral ceremonies differs from group to group.

Similarly, eating behaviour, worshipping behabiour, etc. differ a lot.

Among the Christians, the husband and wife exchange their rings on the occasion of their marriage.

4. The origin of customs is obscure

It is difficult to ascertain the exact way in which customs emerged.

As McDougall writes, “The ends and purposes of many customs are lost in the midst of antiquity.” No single theory or explanation can be offered about the origin of customs.

Numerous customs have arisen in different ways to satisfy the varied needs of man.

5. Customs are relatively durable

In comparison with the folkways, fashions and fads, customs are more durable.

When once the customs are established they gain grounds to become firm. They are implicitly obeyed with least resistance by the majority of the people.

The sole justification for following the customs is that it has been in existence since a long time.

6. All consumer are not irrational

It is wrong to assume that all customs are irrational and meaningless.

Still good number of customs are found to be illogical, meaningless, non-utilitarian and unethical in character.

In modern times, much stress is laid on following the rational, useful and meaningful customs.

1. customs regulate our social life

Customs acts as the effective means of social control.

Individuals can hardly escape their grip. They are self-accepted rules of social life. They bind people together, assimilate their

actions to the accepted standards and control their purely egoistic impulses.

Social importance of customs

2. Customs constitute the treasury of our social heritage

Customs preserve our social culture and transmit it to the succeeding generations.

They have added stability and certainty to our social life.

They bring people together and develop social relationships among them.

The children learn the language spoken, and the occupation followed by their parents through the customs.

3. Customs are basic to our collective life

Customs are found in all the communities of the world.

They are more influential and dominant in the primitive society than in the modern industrial society.

Still no society can do without them. In the traditional societies customs are like

sacred object and their violation cannot be thought of.

4.Customs support law

Customs also provide the solid ground for the formulation and establishment of law.

If the laws are not supported by customs, they cannot succeed.

It is to be noted that in the modern complex society customs are not enough to control the behaviour of the people.

THANK YOU