Which statement best describes the distinction between formal norms and informal norms?

• A. A formal norm is codified in laws or official rules
• B. An informal norm is codified in laws
• C. A formal norm is unwritten
• D. An informal norm is mandatory by law

Answer: (A)

Formal norms are written expectations that are officially codified in laws or rules and backed by institutional enforcement. That means they appear in legal codes, official policies, and formal regulations, with clear penalties for violation. This is why the statement describing formal norms as codified in laws or official rules is the best choice: it captures how these norms are embedded in formal systems of authority and enforcement.

Informal norms, by contrast, are unwritten social expectations that guide everyday behavior. They aren’t recorded in laws and aren’t enforced by authorities in the same way; violations are typically met with social sanctions like disapproval or exclusion, rather than legal penalties. Examples include waiting your turn in line or greeting someone with a handshake.

So, the key distinction is written, legally backed standards versus unwritten, socially enforced expectations.