Which term describes the established do's and don'ts of behavior within a culture?

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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!

The term that describes the established do's and don'ts of behavior within a culture is norms. Norms are the shared rules or guidelines that dictate how people should behave in specific situations and can vary significantly across different cultures. They help maintain order and predictability within society, influencing individual behavior in social contexts.

Values, on the other hand, refer to the deep-seated principles that guide a group's behavior and beliefs about what is important or desirable. While values inform norms, they do not directly prescribe specific behaviors.

Beliefs are convictions or accepted truths that individuals hold, which may not necessarily prescribe behavior but instead shape how individuals perceive the world around them.

Folkways are a subset of norms and refer to informal rules and customs that govern everyday behavior, typically less strict than other types of norms. While they also guide behavior, they are not as formalized as norms, which encompass a broader range of social expectations. Thus, norms is the most accurate term for the established do's and don'ts within a culture.