What defines acceptable standards of behavior that are shared by group members? Select one.

Norms are defined as acceptable standards of behavior that are shared by the members of a group. They act as unwritten rules that dictate what group members ought and ought not to do under certain circumstances. Norms can cover various aspects of group life, such as performance levels (how hard to work), appearance (dress codes), and social arrangements (how members interact). They are a fundamental property of groups that ensures conformity and predictability of behavior, making the group's functioning smoother.

Roles: These are sets of expected behaviors attributed to a specific position within the group, not shared standards for all members.

Status: This is a socially defined rank or position given to a group or its members, which influences power and influence, not a behavioral standard.

Cohesiveness: This is the degree to which members are attracted to the group and motivated to stay in it, not the rules they follow.

1. Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2018). Organizational Behavior (18th ed.). Pearson. Chapter 9 defines norms as "acceptable standards of behavior within a group that are shared by the group’s members."

2. Feldman, D. C. (1984). The development and enforcement of group norms. Academy of Management Review, 9(1), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1984.4277934. This article defines norms as "the informal rules that groups adopt to regulate members' behavior" (p. 47).

3. Stanford University, Graduate School of Business. (n.d.). OB-374: Power and Influence in Organizations Course Materials. The course materials on group dynamics define norms as the shared expectations and rules that guide the behavior of group members.