Assignment Overview For This Assignment You Will Have 136213

Assignment Overviewfor This Assignment You Will Have The Opportunity T

Assignment overview for this assignment: you will have the opportunity to conduct an experiment or quasi-experiment to explore deviance in society. Deviance is defined as any behavior, belief, or condition that violates significant social norms within a society or group. These norms include folkways, mores, and laws, but for this assignment, focus on society’s reaction to a folkway violation. You will utilize your textbook, online materials, and the South Online Library to write a two-page essay on the deviant (non-criminal) experience. The assignment involves selecting a folkway, violating it in at least one situation, and documenting the experience with pictures, video, or notes. Be sure to observe and record your feelings and others’ reactions to the norm violation. If reactions are insufficient, try again in a different setting. The essay should discuss the chosen norm, your feelings during the violation, the reactions received, and analyze the experience using sociological theories of deviance. The paper must include an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs exploring the experience and analysis, and a conclusion summarizing main points. An alternative option is to write a reflection paper on a past personal instance of deviance, incorporating concepts from the course material. The essay should be 2–5 pages long, formatted in APA style, and submitted as a Word document.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Deviance is a fundamental component of sociology that helps us understand social norms, compliance, and societal reactions to behavior that diverges from accepted standards. This paper explores a personal experiment involving the violation of a folkway—specifically, sitting with a stranger at a restaurant—to observe societal reactions and internal feelings during the act. By documenting this behavior and analyzing the responses through sociological theories, I aim to better understand how deviance functions within societal norms and mechanisms of social control.

Choosing and Violating a Folkway

The folkway selected for this experiment was sitting with a stranger at a restaurant table. Typically, individuals adhere to this norm by waiting for their own party or sitting alone unless invited to join others. To violate this folkway, I intentionally approached a table where I was alone, asked for permission to join, and sat down without prior invitation or social cue. This action diverges from typical behavioral expectations and constitutes a violation of this folkway, which is part of everyday social etiquette but not a criminal offense.

Documenting the Experience

During the experiment, I documented the experience through notes and photographs. As I engaged in sitting with a stranger, I paid close attention to my feelings—initial nervousness and curiosity—and the reactions of the other diner. The reactions ranged from surprise and mild discomfort to eventual acceptance and conversation. Some individuals responded with polite curiosity but avoided engagement, while others welcomed the interaction. These reactions highlight the social boundaries surrounding folkways and the variability of societal reactions based on context and individual dispositions.

Analysis of Feelings and Reactions

While violating the folkway, I experienced a mixture of anxiety and excitement. This emotional response aligns with theories of social control that suggest norm violations violate expected behaviors, resulting in discomfort. Durkheim’s theory of social cohesion suggests that norms maintain societal order—deviating from folkways can threaten social harmony, but also offers opportunities for social bonding and reevaluation of norms. The mixed reactions of the stranger reflect these social processes. Some individuals reasserted social norms by distancing or politely disengaging, reinforcing societal boundaries around folkways. Others responded positively, demonstrating that social reactions are fluid and context-dependent.

Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance

Applying sociological theories to interpret this experience offers insight into societal responses to deviance. Structural functionalism, for example, views folkways as mechanisms that preserve social order; violations can prompt social sanctions designed to reinforce norms. Conversely, symbolic interactionism emphasizes the role of social interactions and perceptions in shaping deviance and norms. The varying reactions of the stranger exemplify how social meaning is constructed through interaction. Moreover, labeling theory suggests that reactions to such deviance reinforce societal norms through social sanctions. The experiment illustrates that deviance is not inherently negative but contextually dependent and integral to social regulation.

Conclusion

This experiment into violating a folkway demonstrates the nuanced ways society perceives and reacts to deviant behavior. Feelings of discomfort or anxiety are natural responses to deviation from norms, and responses from others range from rejection to acceptance. The sociological theories of social cohesion, symbolic interactionism, and labeling explain the complexity of deviance as a social phenomenon. Understanding these dynamics enhances our grasp of how social norms function and evolve through everyday interactions and reactions.

References

1. Kendall, D. (2013). Sociology in Our Times (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
2. Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory. Sage Publications.
3. Durkheim, É. (1912/1997). The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Free Press.
4. Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press.
5. Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Prentice-Hall.
6. Lemert, E. M. (1951). Social Pathology: The Case of Alcoholism. Oxford University Press.
7. Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of Delinquency. University of California Press.
8. Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology (4th ed.). Polity Press.
9. Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, Self, and Society. University of Chicago Press.
10. Schwalbe, M. (2008). "Generic Processes in the Reproduction of Inequality." Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 67-83.