Definition: Norms and values

Civilisation elements through which conduct, persons, institutions and social condi­tions or outcomes are judged as right or wrong, permissible or impermissible, or de­sirable or undesirable.

• Explanation. Because norms and values can also evaluate conditions or outcomes as de­sirable or undesirable, they can provide standards for formulating goals worth pursuing. Values express more general evaluations; norms translate these partly into concrete ex­pectations concerning conduct. Norms and values need not be mutually consistent within a single individual or social circle. In concrete situations, values may conflict and the rela­tive significance attributed to them may differ by sphere or social circle.