Which term describes the expected behavior at a given life stage?

• A. Age norms
• B. Social patterns
• C. Functional prerequisites
• D. Demographic prescriptions

Answer: (A)

Age norms are the expectations a culture places on how people should behave at specific ages. They guide when to finish school, enter the workforce, marry, start a family, or retire, acting like a social clock for the life course. Because this term directly captures the idea of behavior that is expected at a particular life stage, it fits best. The other ideas describe broader patterns or structures (general social patterns, core tasks of a system, or less standard terms) rather than the age-specific expectations that define behavior at different stages.