What are codified, institutionalized, and formalized norms known as?

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Prepare for the UCF SYG2000 Introduction to Sociology Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to enhance your understanding and increase your chances of success!

Codified, institutionalized, and formalized norms are known as law. Laws are established rules and guidelines that are created and enforced by a governing authority, reflecting the formalization of societal norms into a system that applies to all citizens. Laws are designed to regulate behavior, maintain order, and ensure justice within a society. They often originate from the customs and values of a community but are written down and sanctioned by legal institutions, making them binding and enforceable.

In contrast, while regulations can be seen as a type of law, especially within specific contexts like government policy, they do not encompass the broader concept of laws that apply universally to social norms. Customs refer to traditional practices and behaviors that are passed down through generations but may not necessarily be formalized or enforced. Values represent deeply held beliefs about what is important, but they do not have the codified nature that laws possess, as they are more abstract and can vary widely between cultures. Therefore, law is the option that clearly encapsulates the idea of norms that are formalized and codified in a way that regulates behavior within society.