Folkways
W.G. Sumner made these concepts popular through his book Folkways, which was first published in 1906. The word literally means ‘the ways of the folk’. ‘Folk’ means people and ‘ways’ refers to their behavioural traits. The term folkways is so broad that it encompasses all kinds of social usages and social codes. Sumner points out that folkways are “handed down by tradition and admit of no exception or variation, yet change to meet new conditions (Sumner, 1906, p. 4). From this, we know that all the life of human beings, in all ages and stages of culture, is primarily controlled by a vast mass of folkways.
Definition of folkways
1. W. G. Sumner (1906, p. 4) says, “are like products of natural forces which men unconsciously set in operation, or they are like the instinctive ways of animals, which are developed out of experience.”
2. Gillin and Gillin say that “Folkways are behaviour patterns of everyday life which generally arise unconsciously in a group.”
3. A. W. Green opines, “Those ways of acting that are common to a society or a group and that are handed down from one generation to the next are known as folkways.”
4. According to Lundberg, “These are the typical or habitual beliefs, attitudes and styles of conduct observed within a group or community.”
5. Merill says, “These are literally the ways of the folk, that is, social habits or group expectations that have arisen in the daily life of the group”.
6. According to Reuter and Hart (1933), “The folkways are simple habits of action common to the members of the group; they are the ways of the folks that are somewhat standardized and have some degree of traditional sanction for their persistence.”
7. Maclver and Page (1949) defined it as “The folkways are the recognized or accepted ways of behaving in the society.”
8. Horton and Hunt, “Folkways are simply the customary, normal, habitual ways of doing things.”
9. Maclver, “Folkways are the recognised or accepted ways of behaving in society.”
Features or Characteristics of Folkways
The major characteristics of folkways are as under:
1. Folkways arise spontaneously out of the fundamental fact that man must act in order to live. They generally arise unconsciously in a group, such as shaking hands, tipping the hat, calling on strangers and without planned or rational thought.
2. Folkways develop out of group experience. They are passed down from generation to generation through interaction.
3. They change as culture changes or when we enter different situations.
4. Folkways are the weakest norms, which are most often violated but least likely to carry any severe punishment. Violations of folkways bring only mild censure in the form of some smiles, glances, or occasional comments from others.
5. Folkways are not looked at by most people as moral matters. They are deemed the ‘right’ way and ‘normal.’ People accept most of them unquestionably.
6. Folkways differ from mores in that they are less severely sanctioned and are not abstract principles.
7. Folkways (customs) may and sometimes do become burdensome. They sometimes exact more energy than they conserve.
8. Every society has some/many folkways. Even the most primitive society will have a few hundred folkways. In modern industrial societies, they become even more numerous and involved.
From the above, we understand that folkways are spontaneous and customary behavioural norms that arise from the necessity of human interaction. They are shaped by group experiences and adapt to changing cultures and situations. While they are less strictly enforced and often violated, they are integral to societal functioning. Folkways serve as the ‘normal’ way of behaviour, distinct from mores, and can sometimes become cumbersome. Across societies, folkways are ubiquitous and essential, reflecting the nuanced fabric of human interactions.
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