Breaking Social Norms

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School

Jefferson Community and Technical College *

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Course

112

Subject

Sociology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

2

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Julia Wood 1/22/24 BEFORE THE ACTIVITY What social norm are you going to violate? For this social experiment, I chose to break the norm of maintaining a quiet and reserved demeanor in public spaces. The specific norm I aimed to violate was the unspoken rule against singing out loud in public. Typically, people tend to keep to themselves and avoid drawing attention by engaging in activities such as singing, especially in crowded or quiet places. What function does the norm serve in society? The norm of not singing out loud in public serves the function of maintaining a peaceful and unintrusive atmosphere in shared spaces. It is a form of non-verbal communication that conveys respect for others' personal space and the desire to keep interactions minimal in public settings. Breaking this norm challenges the expectation of maintaining a quiet and unobtrusive environment. What do you predict will happen? I predicted that breaking the norm by singing out loud in public would lead to a range of reactions from people around me. Some might find it amusing or entertaining, while others could perceive it as disruptive or socially inappropriate. I expected a mix of surprised glances, smiles, and potentially some disapproving looks. AFTER THE ACTIVITY Describe what you did and how people reacted to your norm violation. To break the social norm, I decided to sing a popular song while waiting in line at a coffee shop. As I started singing, I observed a variety of reactions from the people around me. Some individuals seemed amused and smiled, while others appeared uncomfortable or unsure of how to react. A few people exchanged glances, perhaps trying to gauge whether anyone else found the situation as unconventional as they did. Describe how you felt about breaking the social norm. Reflect on the experience. Breaking the norm by singing out loud in public was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I felt a sense of liberation as I defied the usual expectation of quietness in public spaces. However, there was also a lingering feeling of self-consciousness, knowing that I was deviating from the accepted social behavior. The experience highlighted the power of social norms in shaping individual behavior and the fear of deviating from those norms. Use information from the course text to support and interpret the experiences that you outlined in your reflection. The experiment underscored the influence of societal expectations on individual behavior. As discussed in the course, people are often guided by implicit rules to ensure smooth functioning
within a community. The different reactions observed during the this experiment with theories on social conformity and the discomfort individuals may feel when faced with unexpected deviations from the norm. In conclusion, this experiment not only provided a firsthand experience of breaking a social norm but also offered valuable insights into the dynamics of human behavior influenced by societal expectations.
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