Which term refers to changes in social norms and values across a society?

• A. Decriminalisation
• B. Types of Offender
• C. Media Influence
• D. Cultural change

Answer: (D)

The term for changes in social norms and values across a society is cultural change. Culture includes the shared beliefs, values, and patterns of behavior that guide how people act and what they consider acceptable. When attitudes or expectations shift—such as growing acceptance of new family structures or evolving views on crime and punishment—that's cultural change at work, often driven by factors like technology, migration, policy reforms, and media.

Decriminalisation is about removing criminal penalties for acts that were illegal, which is a legal policy change rather than a broad shift in society’s norms. Types of offender categorize different kinds of people who commit crimes, not how society’s values are changing. Media influence describes how media can shape opinions and attitudes, but it isn’t itself the term for broad changes in norms across a population. Cultural change best fits the idea of society-wide shifts in norms and values.