Breaking The Norm: Your First Paper Assignment Requires You

Breaking The Normyour First Paper Assignment Requires You To Break A

Break a social norm by intentionally engaging in behavior that deviates from societal expectations. Norms are the accepted rules of behavior in society, guiding how individuals act in various situations. The goal of this project is to observe and analyze people's reactions to your norm-breaking behavior, providing insight into social norms and conformity (Cialdini & Trost, 1990).

Choose a behavior that is considered normal in a specific context and deliberately alter it. This could involve your behavior in elevators, on walks, or when holding doors. The behavior should be subtle enough to cause reactions but not so extreme as to cause harm or discomfort. The focus is on causing observable responses from others, which you will then analyze.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will explore the concept of social norms, describe the norm I chose to break, detail my activities, and analyze the reactions I received from bystanders. Through this process, I aim to better understand how social expectations influence behavior and how people respond when these expectations are violated.

Definition of ‘norm’

Social norms are unwritten rules and expectations that govern behavior in society, guiding individuals on appropriate conduct in various contexts. These norms facilitate social order by creating predictability and uniformity in interactions (Cialdini & Trost, 1990). Norms can be explicit, such as laws, or implicit, such as customs and traditions. They serve as social cues that help individuals navigate social environments and maintain societal harmony. Violating norms often elicits reactions from others, ranging from indifference to disapproval or surprise, which reinforces societal expectations (Bicchieri, 2005).

Norm selected and description of the activity

The norm I chose to break pertains to elevator behavior, which generally follows a set of unwritten rules. Typically, when entering an elevator, individuals silently face the door or turn to look at the ceiling or their phones, avoiding eye contact and conversation with others. The norm promotes privacy and minimizes interaction, with the expectation that elevator rides are discreet and private. To break this norm, I intentionally engaged in conversation with a fellow passenger, facing them directly and initiating a friendly greeting. Instead of maintaining silence or ignoring others, I deliberately broke the silent, aloof convention and attempted to create a social interaction in this usually isolating setting.

Details of my activity

During my assigned activity, I entered an elevator with several other passengers. Upon entering, I made eye contact with one of the individuals and greeted them with a simple 'Hello' and a smile. I then engaged in brief small talk about the weather, deliberately breaking the typical silence. The reactions of other passengers varied: some appeared slightly surprised, while others looked away or avoided eye contact after the initial interaction. One individual responded with a polite smile and reciprocated the greeting, while another pretended to look at their phone to avoid further engagement. Overall, the reactions ranged from mild surprise to discomfort, indicating their social expectations were challenged.

Analysis of people's reactions

The diverse responses from bystanders can be attributed to their adherence to social norms of privacy and non-interference in elevator interactions. Many individuals had internalized the norm that elevators are spaces of minimal social interaction; thus, when I broke this expectation, some felt uncomfortable or unsure of how to respond. The person who engaged in conversation likely saw my behavior as an unexpected but acceptable deviation, possibly interpreting it as friendly or amusing. Others may have been confused or annoyed, perceiving the interaction as intrusive or unnecessary. These reactions align with the social function of norms, which serve to regulate behavior and maintain social order as described by Bicchieri (2005).

Expectations and conclusions

I anticipated that my behavior would evoke surprise or discomfort, as it diverged from the quiet, reserved norm typical in elevator rides. Given the social context, I expected most individuals to either ignore the interaction or try to avoid further engagement. The reactions I observed matched my expectations; some passengers responded positively, while others avoided eye contact or turned away. This supports the idea that social norms are deeply internalized and deviations lead to various responses based on individual personality, cultural background, and context.

References

• Bicchieri, C. (2005). The Grammar of Society: The Nature and Dynamics of Social Norms. Cambridge University Press.
• Cialdini, R. B., & Trost, M. R. (1990). Social influence: Social norms, conformity, and compliance. In M. A. Hogg & D. J. Abrams (Eds.), Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles (pp. 151-192). Guilford Press.
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