Social customs that may be broken without serious consequences are known as which term?

• A. Mores
• B. Laws
• C. Folkways
• D. Taboos

Answer: (C)

Informal social norms that guide everyday behavior and are enforced mostly by social approval rather than legal or moral penalties are called folkways. These are the everyday manners and customs that shape how we act in common situations—greetings, dress for different settings, waiting in line, or how we behave in public spaces. Breaking a folkway typically leads to mild embarrassment or social disapproval, not serious consequences.

By contrast, mores are norms with strong moral significance, and violating them sparks strong sanctions; laws are formal rules with legal penalties; taboos are powerful prohibitions that provoke intense disgust and severe sanctions. Since the prompt describes customs that may be broken without serious consequences, folkways is the best fit.