Norms are a. shared beliefs about what is good or bad or right or wrong. b. the organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system. c. shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations. d. the simplest level if culture.

c. shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations.

Norms are rules that are shared among members of a particular cultural group and that tell people how to act in a specific situation. These norms are rarely codified, and instead, they are passed down to new generations through education and socialization. They enable large groups to cooperate and coexist harmoniously, as well as to distinguish themselves from other groups with different norms.

"choosing is refusing" means individuals face an opportunity cost with each decision they make. economists state that every decision involves trade-offs. opportunity cost is the least desirable alternative given up as a result of a decision.