Relationship of Social Norms and Values – All human actions and attitudes in everyday life are limited by social norms and values. The goal is simple so that the order of human life runs peacefully and minimizes conflict. Usually, social norms and values have been taught since humans were born.
Social norms and values will differ in each region. However, there are some things that are the same, for example adab respect and be polite to parents. Then, is there a difference between social norms and values? What is the relationship between social norms and values? The following will discuss the relationship of social norms and values in more detail which has been summarized from various pages on the internet,
Definition of Social Value
In the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), value is defined as price (in the sense of estimated price); price of money (compared to the price of other money), intelligence numbers; seed; more or less content; rate; quality; characteristics (things) that are important or useful for humanity; something that perfects man according to his essence.
Meanwhile, according to Steeman, value is something that gives meaning to life, which provides a reference, point of departure and purpose of life. Value is something that is upheld, which can color and animate one’s actions. Values are not only seen as mere beliefs, values always involve mindsets and actions, so that there is a very close relationship between values and ethics.
In line with Steeman, Rokeach also defines value as a deep belief about actions, actions or behavior that are considered bad. Meanwhile, according to Linda and Richard Eyre, values are standards of behavior and attitudes that determine who we are, how we live and how we treat others. Of course good values can make people better, live better and treat others better.
Tyler also defines value as an object, activity or idea expressed by individuals who control education in directing interests, attitudes and satisfaction. It is further explained that since humans have learned to value an object, activity and idea, this object becomes an important regulator of interest, attitude and satisfaction. Therefore, schools must help students find and strengthen meaningful and significant values for students in obtaining personal happiness and making positive contributions to society.
Meanwhile, social in the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), social is defined as relating to society; likes to pay attention to the public interest (like to help, donate, and so on).
Social values themselves can be interpreted as values held by a society regarding what is considered good and what is considered bad by society. Social values are the result of a collective agreement that has been recognized and adhered to by a community group.
Although social values are not written down and tend to be considered implicit or abstract. However, social values are binding on individuals. Over time, a value can shift, change, adapt to the times, be updated, even be abandoned.
For example, the culture of greeting has begun to erode in urban communities due to self-occupation and the introduction of individualistic culture. This will be different if in the village, residents will greet each other, both those who pass by are familiar or only know their names.
Social values that develop in a society become a way of life. It is always present in society and is practiced from generation to generation.
It should be remembered that social values are not a matter of right and wrong. It becomes a concept that exists within humans, is philosophical about what is considered good and what is considered bad. A thing can be said to be valuable if it is useful (use value), true (truth value), beautiful (aesthetic value), good (moral value), and so on.
Social values are very necessary in society. This is because social values are often used as a guideline for life by the community in determining attitudes in everyday life.
Not only that, social values are also used as the value of human life in dealing with other humans. Social values are not simply obtained when they are born. It is obtained through a value system taught by parents to their children with various adjustments.
Characteristics and Functions of Social Values
Social value can be identified from several characteristics as follows.
- Value is created socially, in the sense that value is the result of an agreement with a community to meet human needs and achieve certain goals,
- Values have a broad scope, including ways of behaving, customs/habits, and culture.
- Social values are passed down from generation to generation through social interaction over a relatively long period of time.
- Social values are not static, in the sense that over time values can shift, change, be renewed and abandoned.
- Social values vary between communities due to differences in cultural systems.
- Social values are binding on individuals or groups in a society.
- Created from a process of intensive human interaction and not behavior that was born.
- Transformed through a learning process that includes socialization, acculturation, and diffusion.
- There are social measures or rules that help meet social needs.
- Different for each group of people.
- Each value has a different effect on human action.
- Can influence individual personality as a member of society.
There are three functions of social value as follows.
1. As a Code of Conduct
Social values contain the way individuals act in everyday life so that they can be accepted in society. Value as a guideline means that value takes on a function as a source of reference and guidance for individual life in thinking, acting, and behaving.
All actions taken by individuals on the basis of freedom of expression must still be guided by the values or norms that exist in society. The goal is to stay under control and not harm themselves or the community group itself.
2. As Social Control
Social values are formed from mutual agreements. Therefore, values are binding on individuals or groups in a society. Value has a function as a limiter regarding things that are appropriate and inappropriate to do. As well as, reinforce behavior that is considered good and bad.
Thus, it is hoped that every individual who grows up in society will be good and not do evil or deviate. However, unfortunately these values sometimes limit self-development. For example, women are not allowed to go to high school because later they will only become housewives or fight against their husbands. In fact, women who go to high school can educate their children properly and stay sane in running the household.
3. As Social Protector
Social values are passed down from one generation to the next in a relatively long time. Social values carry a broad vision, which is to encourage the creation of social order in social life.
Values have a function as a social protection that minimizes the occurrence of forms of social deviation and provides a feeling of security for individuals or groups in a society.
Kinds of Social Values
Launching from the Bola.com and Studiobelajar.com pages , social values can be grouped by type as follows.
1. Material Values
Material value is everything whose function can be felt physically (physical elements). For example, stone can be used to build buildings. Therefore, stones have material values that can be felt by humans.
2. Vital Value
Vital value consists of everything that is useful in supporting daily activities. For example, jackets in winter or rain are used to warm the body. However, in hot or dry season the jakret has no value or its use decreases. Jackets based on their uses are included in objects that have vital value.
3. Spiritual Values
Spiritual value includes everything whose benefits can be felt mentally or spiritually. Spiritual values include religious, moral or goodness values, beauty or aesthetics, and truth. For example, every individual believes in a religion or belief and practices these teachings in everyday life.
Which teachings are believed to give peace and serenity in their hearts. The freedom to have a religion or belief and to worship according to religious teachings is part of spiritual values.
Spiritual values can be grouped into four groups as follows.
- The value of truth, namely the value that comes from the elements of human reason (logic, reason, reason, mind, creativity). For example iron when heated expands, 1 + 1 = 2.
- The value of beauty, namely the value that comes from the elements of human feelings (feelings and aesthetics). For example, works of art.
- Moral values, namely values relating to good and bad, originate from elements of human nature such as will or will (intention and ethics). For example helping victims of natural disasters.
- Religious value, namely the highest and absolute spiritual value originating from human belief or belief in God Almighty. For example, religious rituals.
Definition of Norm
In the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), norms are defined as rules or provisions that bind members of groups in society, used as guidelines, orders, and controllers of behavior that are appropriate and acceptable; a rule, measure, or rule used as a benchmark for assessing or comparing something.
Norms can be interpreted as instructions or directions in behavior that must be done or even not allowed to be done in everyday life. If violated will get certain sanctions.
Norms can also be interpreted as a set of rules that are used by society as a guideline for behaving, thinking, feeling, to acting and a benchmark for behavior in social life. Norms consist of provisions governing human behavior in society. The nature of the norm is binding.
Launching from the Kompas.com page, the following is the definition of norms formulated by several experts.
1. John J. Macionis Quoted
Norms are the rules and expectations of a society that guide the behavior of its members
2. Richard T. Schaefer and Robert P. Lamm
According to them, norms are standards of behavior that are established and maintained by society.
3. Craig Calhoun
Norms are guidelines or rules that state how individuals should act in a situation in society.
4. Utrecht
Norms are all sets of life instructions that are used to regulate order in society. These guidelines are also used in regulating the life of the nation, and must be obeyed by the community. If you violate, there will be consequences.
5. Bellebaum
Norms are tools used to regulate each individual in an environment. The goal is for them to act or behave according to the attitudes and beliefs prevailing in their area.
6. Hans Kelsen In
Norms are impersonal and anonymous orders.
7. Robert Mz. Mace
According to him, the definition of norms is a description of what is desired, and whether something is good or not. According to him, good assumptions need to be appreciated accordingly.
8. Soerjono Soekanto
According to Soerjono Soekanto, norms are devices that are made so that relations in society can run as desired or expected.
9.Anthony Giddens
Norms are concrete principles or rules and must be considered by members of society.
10. Broom and Selznic Definitions
According to them, norms are ideal designs about human behavior that provide limits for members of society in achieving their goals.
Characteristics and Norm Functions
Launching from the Bola.com page, norms can be identified through the following characteristics.
- Generally not written.
- It is the result of an agreement.
- Society is a supporter who obey it.
- Violating social norms is subject to sanctions or punishment.
- Adjusting to social change so that it can be said that social norms can change.
- Consciously made.
The functions of the norms as written on the Bola.com page are as follows.
- Can prevent conflicts of interest in society
- It can create a safe, peaceful and orderly community life.
- Give instructions or guidelines for each individual in living life in society.
- Help achieve common goals in society.
- Regulate people’s behavior to match the prevailing values.
- Provide limits, namely in the form of prohibitions or orders in behaving and acting.
- Forcing individuals to adjust and adapt to the prevailing norms that exist in society and absorb the expected values.
Kinds of Norms
Launching from the Bola.com page, norms can be classified into several groups as follows.
1. Religious Norms
Religious norms are believed to originate from God Almighty. The content of this norm is in the form of commands, teachings, and prohibitions. Meanwhile, sanctions from religious norms are in the form of sins with retribution in the hereafter.
2. Norms of Decency
The norms of decency originate from the human conscience. The norms of decency encourage people to do good and avoid bad actions. Meanwhile, violators of this norm will receive sanctions in the form of remorse, ridicule, and even ostracism from society.
3. Polite Norms
The norms of decency adhere to several things, such as habits, decency, decency that apply in society. Social norms are formed from the existence of human interaction. It originates from habits, customs, culture, and community values.
The norm of decency encourages every individual to do good even though it does not come from his conscience. However, it is only limited to respecting other people in social interaction.
4. Legal Norms
Legal norms come from the state or government which are regulated in law. Legal norms have a coercive nature to protect interests in social life in society. Legal norms are also used as a complement to other norms with real, firm, coercive and binding sanctions, such as imprisonment and fines.
Relationship of Social Norms and Values
The relationship between social norms and values cannot be separated. Both are like two sides of a coin that cannot be separated. If the value is considered as a good thing, desired, aspired to, and considered important by society.
Then, norms are considered as rules or rules that are agreed upon by society and provide guidelines for behavior so that members pursue something that is considered good or desirable.
Value is the most basic thing. Its nature is essential, the essence, or the deepest meaning. It relates to ideals, hopes, beliefs, and things that are ideal. Value is abstract, therefore it is necessary to have something that makes it concrete and real. Thus, norms are present to form values to become concrete and real.
Rules in the form of orders and prohibitions are contained in norms based on a value that is considered good, right, useful, and upheld in society. It can be concluded that the relationship between norms and values lies in making norms a source of all rules that provide direction for humans so that their hopes can come true.
The relationship between values and norms is also found in the formation of each individual’s attitude in social life in society to education in terms of morality. Basically, the relationship between values and norms is a value that is standardized or used as a standard or measure in determining the quality of human behavior.