The nexus between social norms and the Ubuntu and social work

Abstract

What are norms?  There are different schools of thought, but there is a general agreement that a norm is a behaviour shared by members of a given group, and this helps us to distinguish between a norm and an attitude.  An attitude is something conceptualised at individual level.  However, when you talk of a norm, it must be shared by a group.  And when a norm is widely accepted within a much larger society, say, a whole region in Zimbabwe or a whole region in Malawi, that’s what you can say that it is a meta-norm because it is widely accepted by a much wider group of people. Social norms are influenced by belief systems and perceptions of what others expect and do.  So, there is always this notion that what you believe others do is likely also to influence what you choose or decide to do – because you want to belong.  So, you want to make sure that the way you behave, the decisions you make are aligned to your group, sometimes beyond your group, aligned group – the community or society where you live. However, social norms are also influenced by what you believe others approve or disapprove.  So, you are likely to behave in a certain way or adopt a certain behaviour based on what you believe others you relate with approve or disapprove, or what you believe they consider appropriate or inappropriate.  Adherence to these norms is also sustained by social sanction (rewards and punishments) from those people who matter in your life or context in which you live. These are referred to as reference groups. The strengths of social norms are in most cases determined by the severity of its social sanctions. Therefore, since Ubuntu is culturally constructed and displayed through processes of interaction, there is a high likelihood that it is influenced by social norms.

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Bukuluki, P. (2024). The nexus between social norms and the Ubuntu and social work. African Journal of Social Work, 14(3), 120-126. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i3.2

Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net