Definition of Mores – Behavioral sciences explore the cognitive processes within organisms and the behavioral interactions between organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through the study of the past, controlled and naturalistic observation of the present and disciplined scientific experimentation and modeling.
It attempts to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation. Generally, behavior science deals primarily with human action and often seeks to generalize about human behavior as it relates to society.
Mores
Mores are stricter in folkways, as they determine what is considered moral and ethical behavior; they structure the difference between right and wrong. People feel strongly about mores, and violating them typically results in disapproval or ostracizing. As such, mores exact a greater coercive force in shaping our values, beliefs, behavior, and interactions than do folkways. Religious doctrines are an example of mores that govern social behavior.
For example, many religions have prohibitions on cohabitating with a romantic partner before marriage. So, if a young adult from a strict religious family moves in with her boyfriend, her family, friends, and congregation are likely to view her behavior as amoral.
They might sanction her behavior by scolding her, threatening punishment in the afterlife, or by shunning her from their homes and the church. These actions are meant to indicate that her behavior is amoral and unacceptable, and are designed to make her changer her behavior to align with the violated more.
The belief that forms of discrimination and oppression, like racism and sexism, are unethical is another example of an important more in many societies today.
Definition of Mores
According to Gillin & Gillin
Mores are those customs & group pouitiness which are thought by the members of society tobe necessity to the groups continued existence.
According to Maclver & page
When the folkways have add to conception of group welfare, standard of right & wrong, then they are converted into mores.
According to Horton & Hunt
By mores we mean those strong ideas of right & wrong which require certain acts & forbid others.
Other definition
The term “mores” refers to the norms set by society, largely for behavior and appearance. Individuals who do not follow social mores are often considered social deviants.
or
Mores is a set of moral norms or customs derived from generally accepted practices. Mores derive from the established practices of a society rather than its written laws.
Chracteristics of Mores
- Like folkways, mores also develop slowly,gradually & naturally.
- The idea of group welfer is attached to the mores.
- Mores carry with them a sence of righ & wrong.
- People who break the mores severely punished.
- Since the mores are very imortant for group welfare, they are included in the laws of state also.
- Mores are usually connected with the basic needs of the society.
- Mores differ from place & time to time.
- Mores are include in the normative system of the group.
Importance/Function of Mores
MacIver and Page have mentioned the following social functions of mores.
1. Mores determine much of our individual behavior: Mores always bring direct pressure on our behavior. They mound our character and restrain our tendencies. They act as powerful instruments of social control. Mores are indoctrinated into the personalities of the individuals from the beginning and hence they help them to exercise constraints over their own behavior.
2. Mores identify the individual with the group: Mores are the means by which the individual gains identification with his fellows. As a result of that, he maintains social relations with others that are clearly essential for satisfactory living.
3. Mores are the guardians of social solidarity: Mores bring the people together and weld them into one strong cohesive group. Those who share common mores also share many other patterns of behavior. Every group or society has its own mores. There are more for each sex, for all ages, for all classes, for all groups from the family to the nation. The mores of each of these help to maintain the solidarity of the group.
With the evolution of society, the mores have become more ‘specialized’. Their Control on the civilized and the advanced people is also diminishing. Hence, they are supplemented with laws and legislations.
Difference between Folkways and Mores
Folkways
- Folkways are shared customs or beliefs that have become part of the common culture of a group or society.
- Folkways are habits of a certain individual that has been generally accepted by society and which are followed by its other members.
- Folkways are informal social conventions with normal significance.
- Folkways are the feelings, thinking, and actions of a group and are less strict.
- “Folkways” was introduced by American sociologist William Graham Sumner.
Mores
- Mores, on the other hand, are moral customs, manners, traditions, and conventions of a social group or society.
- Mores are the values, virtues, and norms of society that define how they should act and interact with each other.
- Mores are social conventions that are morally significant.
- Mores instruct people on how they should act, mores, which represent the values of a group,
- Mores” comes from Latin, the word
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