What are sociofacts?

Sociofacts is a term that describes the way sociological beliefs become ingrained in a culture throughout generations, ultimately becoming a fact rather than opinion or interpretation for members of that culture. The word was coined by Sir Julian Sorell Huxley in his textbook "Theoretical Anthropology."

One example of a sociofact is weddings. Though weddings perform the same practical function, the union of two people in marriage, in most of not all cultures, the ceremony represents very different values depending on the participants. In some cultures, weddings are very formal and traditional affairs, while in others they are more informal and joyful celebrations.