Normal faults are primarily associated with extensional stress, which occurs when tectonic plates pull apart. This type of faulting typically happens in regions experiencing rifting or tectonic divergence, where the crust is being stretched and thinned. As the hanging wall block moves down relative to the footwall block, it leads to a characteristic vertical displacement. Thus, normal faults are indeed prevalent in environments where tectonic forces are creating space, such as in mid-ocean ridges or continental rift zones.
The association of normal faults with rifting reflects the geological processes that contribute to the formation of new crust or the breaking apart of existing crust, leading to significant geological features and landscapes. This understanding is critical in geology, as it helps explain the formation of certain basins, valleys, and mountain ranges shaped by such extensional forces.