What term is used to describe widely agreed-upon principles that dictate social behavior?

The term that describes widely agreed-upon principles that dictate social behavior is norms. Norms are the expectations and rules that govern the behavior of individuals within a society or group. They represent the collective agreement on appropriate conduct and help maintain order and predictability in social interactions. Norms can vary across different cultures and can pertain to various aspects of life, including etiquette, laws, and social practices.

While values are deeper beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making, norms are specific manifestations of those values in practice. Similarly, roles refer to the expected behaviors associated with particular positions in a social structure, and sanctions are the consequences that follow when a person adheres to or violates a norm. Thus, norms are the mechanisms through which values are operationalized into everyday actions, making them essential for understanding social behavior.