...Social norms are the unlimited list of unwritten rules that everyone follows everyday without even thinking. When was the last time anyone thought twice before putting shoes on before leaving the house, or eating with a fork instead of their hands. Here in the United States these are perfectly normal actions that people do daily, but in different cultures around the world these norms may vary dramatically. You have asked us to go out and break a social norm, and pay attention to the peoples reactions. This is a huge eye opener for me, and I am sure the others in the class as well. The concept really is a great way to examine yourself, your culture, and to think about how these normality’s have come to be. As for me this proved to be a little nerve racking as I probably fall into the slightly shy category. So I started thinking about some of these things I do everyday, and decided I was going to take my dog for a walk. But this time instead of looking forward as do most human beings, I would walk backwards, and let my dog lead me through the park. This was my first idea and I figured I would give it a try and see if I got reactions from people. The park where I was walking was completely packed with people because it was a Saturday morning. I couldn’t help but crack a smile as the people around me started to stare at me like I was completely retarded. I’m sure in some ways they were right. I kept walking, nearly trampling over an old man who was power walking...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...The social norm I chose to violate was to sit in an empty chair at an otherwise occupied table. I chose a table occupied by three people in a coffee shop in Portland, Oregon. There was not much of a reaction to the social norm violation I committed. The people at the table just looked at me for a moment. After an awkward moment of silence the people at the table said hello and made small talk with me. They were very friendly and easy going. They did not seem to mind that I sat at their table uninvited. After speaking for a few minutes I explained to them that this was a psychology assignment and let them read the assignment. The people at the table were somewhat confused as to why such a thing would be assigned by a college professor. They explained that they felt it was inappropriate for a teacher to ask students to put themselves into any of the listed situations. All the people stated they were not offended by someone actually doing these things. They were bothered that students were required to violate any of the “so-called social norms on the list”. I found my actions to be rude and inconsiderate. I would not like it if someone came over and sat at my table uninvited. Maybe someone wants to have a private conversation with the others at the table. Maybe someone is on a date and wants to be alone. Maybe the people at the table are criminals. Maybe the people do not care if someone sits at their table uninvited. The bottom line is that for me it was uncomfortable...
Words: 429 - Pages: 2
...Challenging the Social Norm. “Story Of An Hour” by Kate Chopin is a telling story about a woman, Mrs. Mallard, who’s given the horrible news that her husband has passed away in a train wreck. Devastated by her husband’s sudden death, she excuses herself and immediately rushes to her bedroom; this is where readers see a different side of Mrs. Mallard. In time she has taken on a different angle of life. Although obviously upset about her husband’s sudden death, Mrs.Mallard has something to be happy about. In 1894 when the “Story Of An Hour” was written, women didn’t have a say over anything and because of her husband's death; Mrs.Mallard learns the cost of both freedom gained, and freedom lost. Kate Chopin lived in a time period when women really did not have any rights. Therefore her stories typically focused entirely around the theme of female characters who dealt with these problems; Chopin was well known for writing about these society blocks. However in her stories the women usually take on a more conventional side than what would be expected. Normally they chose their own path rather than what society would want. One theme in Chopin’s story is freedom (Mayer, 95). In the beginning of “The Story of an Hour” the scene opens up and readers are introduced to Mrs. Mallard, who has been told that her husband has died in a horrible train wreck.She reacts to this news like any other wife would -- yes, she is clearly upset so she excuses herself and rushes off to her bedroom...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...Taking my Boyfriend Out on a Date Social norms in society are typically unwritten rules on how to behave. Social norms provide us with an expected idea on how to behave in a particular social group or culture. These rules may be explicit or implicit. Violating social norms can result in consequences. It is said that people who do not follow these norms may be shunned or suffer some kind of consequence. Social norms change according to the environment or situation and may change or be modified over time. In sociology, we were given an assignment in which we were required to violate a social norm. On Friday, January 22, I chose to violate a social norm by asking and taking my boyfriend out on a date, while paying for the tab as well. Routinely,...
Words: 631 - Pages: 3
...We are always told in life that we must act and behave to conform to the social norms. We are told how we must behave, what we can do with no freedom to just be ourselves. In some cases social norms are important,, somethings do not need to be said or done in public but other times adhering to what is considered normal can crush one's spirit. It can make you more miserable and depressed than it will make you happy, teens struggle with this more than most. For me, I have never liked the social norms, I like to test the limits and see how far I can go before someone tells me to fix my attitude. Well I’m not really having attitude I just like to fight for my freedom. I grew up with all boys and never once have I wanted to be anything other...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
...Social norms are things that society has considered normal for the people. They constantly change and it's everyone's job to keep up, but today i broke the rules. When you see someone in Walmart that is standing directly in front of the thing you need the “proper” thing to do is to say excuse me or simply wait until they move, but today I did the exact opposite. There was this elderly lady standing in front of the item that i wanted. Instead of saying excuse me I reached over her head and picked up an item. She jolted up quickly and looked at me in disgust but didn't say a word. Even though saying excuse me is a norm that has been around for centuries, she didn't correct me. Maybe because scolding someone else's child is another deviance as well....
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
...Each and every day we do most things without having to put much thought into them. We brush our teeth in the morning, we raise our hand when we want to speak in class, we wait in line behind others instead of cutting, along with tons of other norms. Whenever people break away from these norms society sees it as being deviant, and it catches people off guard because we are to be carrying out these norms, not only by ones-self but also by other’s around us and society. The norm I decided to breech was as simple as walking on the sidewalk to class. There always tends to be a certain side of the sidewalk that people walk on depending on the direction they are going. And when this is disrupted it forces people to change their direction. Whenever...
Words: 694 - Pages: 3
...Norms are the behaviors that are expected out of us depending on the society that we live in. The norms that we have learned about this year in class can be on different levels of importance and they are also situational. There are many different types of norms and they all mean different things. The two main norms I will be focusing on today with my acts of deviance will be Folkways and More. Folkways are minor rules that change from what group of people you are with and there really isn’t much of a punishment for them. The other norm, More, is a way more important and also cares a severe punishment for breaking them. There will be two act of deviance that I will be discussing today that I performed to see if it changed any of the other people I was around to break these norms. The first act of deviance will be to kneel in an elevator. I choose this because of the video we watched in class when the people stood backwards in the elevator and everyone that got into the elevator turned around as well. I want to see if it still works today and if it works with more people or just with a single person. I expect it to probably not work in today’s society and people to just look at me and my...
Words: 474 - Pages: 2
...What are norms and how do norms affect behavior? A norm refers to a standard of appropriate behavior to have in a society or in a group, mainly ways on how to do something. Norms define the social behavior by defining what an individual or a group can and cannot do, they translate the dominating values and role model of the society or the group. There is different kind of norms : formal norms such as laws, regulation, codes to respect and informal noms witch form the customs, the habit … The non respect of those norms can either be tolerated either be punished depending on the kind of the non respected norm : jail, tickets for formal ones and moral sanction such as the exclusion of an individual from the group. That is why most members of...
Words: 533 - Pages: 3
...Assignment 3: Nonverbal Communication – Violating Social Norms Assignment 3: Nonverbal Communication – Violating Social Norms When I started this assignment I was totally lost. I couldn’t find which direction to go in until I researched the title and read over the chapters in the book a little more for a better understanding. Then it hit me and I realized how cool I was going to make this assignment. Before I get into the first scenario I want to briefly go over what I learned about nonverbal communication and social norms. Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is “behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning without the use of words” (Floyd, 2011, p.179). How I interpret the meaning of nonverbal communication? In my opinion these are emotions that are not consciously controlled but an instant reaction off of one of our sudden perceptions. Our senses pick up this vibe. This is why people lean towards respecting nonverbal communication better than what a person actually says out of his/her mouth is because nonverbal communication is more honest. It’s an automatic reaction in most cases like a reflux (123helpme.com, 2000). Using of nonverbal communication. An example of nonverbal communication is “for instance, if someone asks you for directions to the bookstore and you point and say “It’s that way”, your nonverbal behavior (pointing) clarifies the meaning of your verbal message” (Floyd, 2011, p. 179). “In contrast, if you say “It’s...
Words: 931 - Pages: 4
...Social norms are customs that we are conditioned to percieve as ordinary. Social norms have their pupose in our society. One can look at social norms as being favorable or unfavorable. I personally think that social norms are often a positive thing as they help keep us in order. For this paper I decided to violate a social norm that is derived from folkways. Folways are common demeanors related to rituals and triditions of a certain society. The norm that I choose to violate for this paper required me to cut into the middle of a line by myelf and stay in line for atleast 2 minutes. I decided to violate this social norm on the campus of Queensborough Commnity Colloge, in the cafeteria located in the science building. I choose this specific...
Words: 886 - Pages: 4
...Violating Social Norms I. Social Norm Violated Society today is shaped by norms and customs that we as humans abide by. Many norms are followed without opinion or realization that it is being done. Norms are unwritten but traditionally followed. One norm that is an understood rule is how one should behave in an elevator. For instance, it is proper to face front, stand with a respectable distance away from the person next to you, to look forward, and not stare. Being polite is acceptable with a greeting or so but normally that is all. I violated this norm by standing very closely to people as they entered the elevator and uncomfortably staring at them, I also faced the back of the elevator and sang loudly. That one was easiest for me because I didn’t really have to look at the person the entire time but the consequence was I did not get to fully visualize their reaction. II. Reaction of Others When a social norm is broken people may respond with alarm, humor, fear, irritation, or an array of other emotions. When you think of a norm, you are probably thinking about being normal. But in psychology terms, norm means, a standard or representative value for a group. The norm that is more universal to people is social norm. Meaning expectations about what behavior, thoughts or feelings are appropriate within a given group within a given context. While I violated the social norm of elevator etiquette, I had a few different reactions. I first faced the back of the elevator...
Words: 1335 - Pages: 6
...People often conform for many reasons. In my everyday life, I also adjust my opinions, judgment, and behavior so it matches that of other people, or norms of a social group. For example, I will always flush the toilet after I finished and I will say “goodbye” before I hang up the phone. My behavior is due to normative social influence, which means I have a strong desire to be accepted by others because I do not want them to think I am a wield person. Therefore, it is hard for me to imagine what will happen and how others will think of me when I violate the social norm. Yet, I broke a social norm last Friday when I took the train to New York City. I sat next to a woman when there were many empty seats. At first, the woman did not pay attention...
Words: 288 - Pages: 2
...Have you ever decided to not go with the “social norm?” Have you ever thought that anyone going against it must not be “cool” enough for you to hang out with? I am strong in my belief that those who go against the “social norm” and non-conform are more likely to conform with others around them and create a whole new lifestyle for all those around. Why am I so strong in my belief that nonconformity is another way of conforming? When all a person does is go with the “social norm,” such as dressing like others, talking like others, or even acting like others, but when an individual goes against the “social norm” the individual is more likely to be willing to go out and conform with others in their own way. “True conformity involves following...
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
...Zoë C.P Gaines English 101 3/26/2016 Following Social Norms Human society is made up of billions of people right? It’s no wonder to me that in order to keep all of the worlds’ people at a level where they can function peacefully, some structures with regard to behaviors and mannerisms are needed. These, structures are better known as social norms. Social norms are the expected and set behaviors that are found within each and every culture around the world. These norms include both social and legal expectations. They constitute the main fabric of a society and its inner workings by setting in place social unwritten rules, also known as common law; which determines how people behave and act towards and around one another. The foremost function of social norms is to institute social structure and permit cohesiveness between members of society. These norms that are set in place are ordinarily accepted as right, or anticipated behavior depending on various circumstances that depend on environment and culture within such society. Once established, members of society who follow and abide by these norms feel more at ease socially while living out their day to day lives. Although, sometimes an individual's personal identity may in some sense be restricted by some social norms, therefore following the common law of the community you live in is generally seen as being good of the society; and therefore following them becomes an advantage to the members of that society. ...
Words: 1361 - Pages: 6
