Norms

• Social norms are folkways, mores and laws. Folkways are etiquette and customs of a culture that are not critically important to society as a whole. Respecting your elders and being quiet at night are folkways. Mores are rules of behavior where a violation would endanger the stability of a society. Killing, stealing, setting someone's house on fire, cheating on exams and lying are immoral violations of mores. Laws are formalized norms.
  
  

Positive and Negative

• When society applies a positive sanction it means social controls are successful; a desired behavior occurred and thus rewarded. Positive and negative sanctions are in combination with other forms of sanctions. Correct behavior elicits positive sanctions that reinforce the behavior through praise or rewards. Incorrect behavior elicits negative sanctions that may be mild to severe and physical or psychological, depending on the circumstances.
  
  

Physical and Psychological

• Physical sanctions bring pleasure or pain in a physical sense while psychological sanctions address a person's feelings or emotions. Shame is a psychological sanction used to repress aggressive or undesirable behavior as well as a means to dominate and manipulate social status. Physical sanctions may include sitting a child in a corner or taking a time-out, or grounding. Physical sanctions for positive behavior in children include hugging, a pat on the back or issuing an allowance.
  
  

Informal and Formal

• Informal sanctions remind others that their behavior is displeasing. Some examples of informal sanctions are frowning, smiling, condemnation, praise, applause or rejection. When informal social sanctions are no longer sufficient in bringing about conformity, the norms become laws that are punishable by formal sanctions such as imprisonment, probation or community service. Formal entities like police, courts and correctional institutions enforce the laws and punish those who act against them.
  
  

Combination Santions

• Both positive and negative formal sanctions are typically public, such as awarding of prizes, announcements, news articles, parades and public court. Both positive and negative Informal psychological sanctions are actions by peers or groups and include gossip, congratulations, ridicule or laughter. Informal negative sanctions typically occur in public places, such as a school, library or church where the offender's inappropriate behavior results in expulsion.