What actions are categorized as taboos?

Taboos are actions or behaviors that are regarded as socially unacceptable or forbidden within a particular culture or society. The violation of a taboo often leads to strong emotional reactions, such as disgust or outrage, because these actions are deeply embedded in the moral fabric of the community. When considering social norms, taboos are those violations that provoke significant condemnation, and they often carry severe social consequences for individuals who transgress them.

In contrast, commonly accepted practices do not challenge societal norms and thus are not categorized as taboos. Similarly, actions that might be acceptable in certain cultural contexts but not in others indicate cultural relativism rather than taboo status. Finally, minor customs that are rarely challenged typically do not reach the level of being considered taboos, as they lack the intensity of social sanction associated with more profound cultural prohibitions.