Folkways, mores, taboos, rituals & traditions: Meaning, Definitions, and Role in Agricultural Extension

1. Folkways

• Meaning: Folkways are the everyday, routine, customary ways of behaving in a society.
  They guide normal social behavior but do not carry strong moral importance.
• Definition: According to Sumner, folkways are the “usual and habitual ways of doing things” in a group.

Characteristics

• Not strictly enforced
• Mild reaction if violated
• Concern everyday life: dress, eating, greetings

Examples

• Greeting with Namaste
• Eating with the right hand
• Removing shoes before entering home
• Offering water or tea to guests

Role of Folkways in Agricultural Extension

Folkways influence how farmers accept or reject new practices.

1. Help Extension Workers Understand Village Behavior: Example: Visiting farmers early morning or evening respecting local habits.
2. Aid Communication: Using folk greetings and manners builds trust.
3. Smooth Introduction of Innovations: Practices introduced in line with existing folkways are accepted faster.
4. Influence Adoption Rate: If a new idea violates local folk customs, farmers may hesitate (e.g., timing of cattle feeding, sowing rituals).

2. Mores

• Meaning: Mores are strongly held norms that represent the moral values and ethical standards of society.
• Definition: Mores are customs that are essential to the moral life of the community; violation is serious.

Characteristics

• Morally important
• Strong social pressure
• Breaking mores brings severe sanctions
• Support social order

Examples

• Honesty and integrity
• Observing monogamy
• Respecting elders
• Not cheating or stealing

Role of Mores in Agricultural Extension

1. Determine Acceptability of Practices: If an agricultural practice violates community morals, it will not be adopted. Example: Women doing certain tasks may be restricted by mores.
2. Guide Extension Worker’s Behavior: Workers must respect local moral codes to gain trust.
3. Predict Response to Innovations: Example: Introducing piggery in Muslim villages violates religious mores → rejected.
4. Maintain Social Harmony in Programs: Extension programs must align with moral values to avoid conflict.

3. Taboos

• Meaning: Taboos are strong prohibitions against certain actions, objects, foods, or relationships, often based on religious or supernatural beliefs.
• Definition: A taboo is an act forbidden by society because it is believed to be harmful, impure, or offensive.

Characteristics

• Strongest type of norm
• Severe punishment if violated
• Based on religion or supernatural beliefs
• Extremely resistant to change

Examples

• Eating beef (Hindu taboo)
• Eating pork (Muslim taboo)
• Marrying close blood relatives
• Avoiding certain activities on auspicious days

Role of Taboos in Agricultural Extension

1. Affects Adoption of Innovations: Example: Introducing improved pig rearing is impossible in Muslim communities.
2. Directly Impacts Farming Decisions: Some communities avoid work on specific days, Certain animals or plants may be taboo → cannot be introduced
3. Extension Worker Must Know Local Taboos: Avoiding taboo-prohibited actions helps prevent resistance.
4. Program Planning Must Respect Taboos: Awareness avoids cultural conflict.

4. Rituals

• Meaning: Rituals are formal, ceremonial acts performed on special occasions according to established customs.
• Definition: A ritual is a prescribed pattern of behavior associated with important events in social or religious life.

Characteristics

• Symbolic
• Repeated in fixed ways
• Emotionally meaningful
• Strengthen group unity

Examples

• Lighting a lamp for puja
• Ritual sowing before agriculture season
• Fasting
• Saptapadi in marriage

Role of Rituals in Agricultural Extension

1. Affect Farm Practices and Timing: Farmers may sow, harvest, or irrigate only after performing rituals.
2. Extension Teaching Can Use Rituals for Motivation: Demonstrations linked with auspicious days are more acceptable.
3. Help in Community Mobilization: Ritual gatherings (festivals, pujas) are ideal for group meetings.
4. Respecting Rituals Builds Trust: Extension workers earn goodwill if they participate or show respect to local rituals.

5. Traditions

• Meaning: Traditions are long-standing beliefs, customs, and practices handed down from one generation to another.
• Definition: Traditions are “the inherited ways of thinking and behaving that have been passed on over time.”

Characteristics

• Strong emotional attachment
• Provide cultural continuity
• Slow to change
• Represent community identity

Examples

• Joint family system
• Village fairs and festivals
• Traditional ploughing or seed selection methods
• Use of specific crops for rituals (e.g., turmeric, rice)

Role of Traditions in Agricultural Extension

1. Determine What Practices Are Acceptable: Farmers may prefer traditional seed varieties or tools.
2. Traditions Influence Readiness for Change: Highly traditional communities are slower to adopt innovations.
3. Extension Programs Must Respect Traditions: Example: Demonstrations must not clash with traditional festival days.
4. Use Traditional Methods for Better Acceptance: Linking new practices with traditional beliefs speeds adoption. Example: Introducing improved plough with iron share when traditional wooden plough is already known.
5. Helps Extension Worker Understand Community Psychology: Knowing traditions helps in rapport-building and trust.