Folkways Effect On Society

In society, there are rules- written and nonwritten- that define how Americans live and interact with each other. Mores and folkways are what we call these rules. According to William Graham Sumner, a sociologist, a more is a rule or law that a person is punished for socially and/or criminally. (Boundless 2016) For example, lying, and stealing. A folkway is a norm that does not really have a punishment. Such as, holding a hand out and greeting people on the street.

If an American broke a more, then they can be punished and be out casted by society. When an individual lies to someone, the trust they have for that person becomes less and less every time the person lies to them. (Lewis 1993) For instance, in high school, a group of people will be together all the time but then a lie or a rumor gets around and then the group is not together anymore. Lying goes against societal norms. This is an example of a more even though the person is not going to jail, they are punished by being alone.

Many people who steal are teens that feel that they do not get attention or they do it because they think they will not get caught. (Schlimm 2011) I have seen someone steal. I did not say anything at the time but I went back later and paid for it. The owner of the store was really surprised and grateful that I would do that; he let me get anything I wanted for free. Stealing hurts people, especially the economy, and it will ultimately affect the stealer because money is a never-ending cycle. This is an example of a more because the American people have decided that stealing goes against