What are informal norms that govern everyday behavior, such as knowing where to stand in an elevator?

Folkways are the informal norms that govern everyday behavior, and they dictate how we typically act in casual, routine situations. They are not strictly enforced but are generally understood by members of a society. For example, knowing where to stand in an elevator—facing the doors and allowing space for others—is guided by these unwritten rules of social conduct.

Folkways help maintain social order without the necessity of formal laws; they relate to the customs and conventions that might not carry moral significance but are important for smooth interactions in daily life. Violating folkways might lead to social disapproval, but it typically does not result in severe consequences, making them a foundational aspect of social norms within different cultures.