Breaking the Social Norms paper
Kalolina Osai
Intro to Sociology
Breaking the Norms paper
Define ‘norm’. (20 points)
A norm is a certain behavior that is socially accepted and expected.
Define/Describe the norm you are breaking.(20 points)
When walking around through the store, making eye contact or talking to strangers when you are walking around and shopping it is awkward. Most people tend to look away or turn down a different aisle to avoid eye contact. Everyone gets the stuff they want and do little to look others in the eye and say anything to anyone unless they know them.
Describe your activity. What did you do? (10 points)
So I decided that when I went to the the store, I would stay there about an half an hour. I made eye contact with someone, depending on how far away I was from them, I would smile and wave or nod, or if I was closer to them, I would say hi and smile or I would wish them a wonderful day.
Describe the reaction of people who witnessed your behavior. (10 points)
There were some people who wouldn’t make eye contact. There were a few who did make eye contact and they smiled, nodded or waved and others just ignored me. There was a woman who I almost ran into when I was turning out of shoe aisle and I made eye contact with her and after I apologized, I smiled at her and wished her a good day. She smiled back at me, told me it was fine and she too wished me to have a good day. I said hello to a mother who was with her child, the mother just looked at me with a smile and nodded, and I ended up making eye contact with her child and the child just smiled in response.
Why did they react this way? (20 points)
I believed they reacted they way they did because of how they all interpreted my greetings, small talk and how I behaved. For those who ignored me, I think they might have thought I was saying hello to someone other than them. For the ones who did give a smile with a nod or a wave they probably saw it as a friendly gesture and responded back. For the woman who I almost crashed my cart into hers, she dismissed it and smiled and responded to what I had told her. The mother most likely felt like it was a friendly gesture and smiled, and her child’s reaction was seeing me smile so they smiled.
Is this the reaction that you expected? (10 points)
Yes, all of these were more or less, the reactions I had expected.
Why or why not? (10 points)
I personally have had similar experiences when someone did this to me. Though, I’ve never ignore anyone when they smile, nod, or say something to me when they would make eye contact with me. Since it’s happened to me once, I thought that the reactions for the most part would be the same.
Intro to Sociology
Breaking the Norms paper
Define ‘norm’. (20 points)
A norm is a certain behavior that is socially accepted and expected.
Define/Describe the norm you are breaking.(20 points)
When walking around through the store, making eye contact or talking to strangers when you are walking around and shopping it is awkward. Most people tend to look away or turn down a different aisle to avoid eye contact. Everyone gets the stuff they want and do little to look others in the eye and say anything to anyone unless they know them.
Describe your activity. What did you do? (10 points)
So I decided that when I went to the the store, I would stay there about an half an hour. I made eye contact with someone, depending on how far away I was from them, I would smile and wave or nod, or if I was closer to them, I would say hi and smile or I would wish them a wonderful day.
Describe the reaction of people who witnessed your behavior. (10 points)
There were some people who wouldn’t make eye contact. There were a few who did make eye contact and they smiled, nodded or waved and others just ignored me. There was a woman who I almost ran into when I was turning out of shoe aisle and I made eye contact with her and after I apologized, I smiled at her and wished her a good day. She smiled back at me, told me it was fine and she too wished me to have a good day. I said hello to a mother who was with her child, the mother just looked at me with a smile and nodded, and I ended up making eye contact with her child and the child just smiled in response.
Why did they react this way? (20 points)
I believed they reacted they way they did because of how they all interpreted my greetings, small talk and how I behaved. For those who ignored me, I think they might have thought I was saying hello to someone other than them. For the ones who did give a smile with a nod or a wave they probably saw it as a friendly gesture and responded back. For the woman who I almost crashed my cart into hers, she dismissed it and smiled and responded to what I had told her. The mother most likely felt like it was a friendly gesture and smiled, and her child’s reaction was seeing me smile so they smiled.
Is this the reaction that you expected? (10 points)
Yes, all of these were more or less, the reactions I had expected.
Why or why not? (10 points)
I personally have had similar experiences when someone did this to me. Though, I’ve never ignore anyone when they smile, nod, or say something to me when they would make eye contact with me. Since it’s happened to me once, I thought that the reactions for the most part would be the same.
Reflection
This was an interesting assignment to do. I did enjoy this assignment for the most part because people were nice and it was fun seeing other peoples reaction. I wouldn't mind doing this assignment again. I learn that breaking the social norm can be fun depending on what you are doing.