What are norms best described as?

Norms are best described as the rules and expectations that guide behavior in a society because they serve as a framework for how individuals should act in various situations. Norms can dictate a wide range of behaviors, including social interactions, customs, and even laws. They help maintain social order by providing a common understanding of acceptable behavior within a given group or society. This helps facilitate cooperation and predictability among individuals, making social life more organized.

Personal preferences of individuals, while they may influence behavior, are subjective and vary from person to person, whereas norms are collectively agreed upon expectations. Cultural artifacts can reflect historical values but do not directly influence behavior in the same prescriptive way that norms do. Standardized tests for measuring social attitudes are analytical tools and do not represent the broader concepts of norms, which are inherently about social behavior rather than measurement.