What term refers to laws, morals, values, beliefs, and customs that govern social life?

• A. Social facts
• B. Norms
• C. Mores
• D. Taboos

Answer: (A)

Social facts are the recurring patterns and structures that govern social life, existing outside any one person and constraining actions. Laws codify these patterns; morals, values, beliefs, and customs express them; together they form the social order. They show up in institutions, rituals, and shared understandings that people typically follow even when not actively choosing them. Norms are expectations for behavior, mores are stronger, morally charged norms, and taboos are strong prohibitions. While those are important pieces of social life, the broad set of laws, morals, values, beliefs, and customs is best captured by social facts because they highlight the external, coercive, and collective nature that shapes everyday conduct.