Folkways are specific social norms that define and guide behavior in society. They are learned behaviors that are shared by a social group and provide a traditional mode of conduct. Folkways are informal rules and norms that, while not offensive to violate, are expected to be followed/03%3A_Culture/3.02%3A_The_Symbolic_Nature_of_Culture/3.2J%3A_Folkways_and_Mores). They are social standards, not moral standards (mores), and the repercussions for breaking a folkway are minimal or nonexistent. Folkways are not considered to be of moral significance by members of the group, and they operate primarily at an unconscious level and persist because they are expedient.

Examples of folkways include covering your mouth when you cough, not eating certain animals like dogs or cats, and dressing a certain way depending on the event such as wearing black to a funeral. Folkways tend to group themselves around major social concerns, such as sex, forming social institutions like the family. They can vary across time, cultures, places, and even sub-groups. Folkways are taught through socialization with various sources, including family, friends, peers, and schools.

In summary, folkways are customs or conventions of daily life that are a type of social norm and provide expectations for how we act. They are learned behaviors that are shared by a social group and provide a traditional mode of conduct. Folkways are informal rules and norms that are not considered to be of moral significance by members of the group, and the repercussions for breaking a folkway are minimal or nonexistent.