Breaking Social Norms Essay

Social norms argon the universal rules that govern behaviour in certain group of individuals. These rules specify how angiotensin converting enzyme should behave, and it clarifies what may be considered normal or acceptable to golf club. The type of norm that I have decided to violate for this assignment is a folk course. Folkways atomic number 18 informal, unstated rules that govern society, unlike laws, which be formal written rules. Folkways ar a behavioral adaptation that developed to make kind bearing possible. They argon considered less essential to the stability of society since it applies to everyday people.For lesson Ameri corporations shake throws when meeting, while members of otherwise cultures bow, or kiss. For this assignment I decided to stand outside the m every and kick the bucket shake individuals as they walk in and out of the mall. Since norms consist of preferences, rather than demands the mechanism of cordial control results in sanctions. Whethe r informal positive or informal minus, these sanctions may result in a simile, or a dirty look. This search will explore the reply of individuals when greeted by a stranger and the concomitant actions that resulted.For this assignment I decided to go to South Coast nub Mall in Costa Mesa. South Coast Plaza is a place where a concierge will check your bags when your arms are likewise tired, where personal shoppers are at your service, and where your electric jaguar can wee serviced while you shop or dine. Around the fancy cluster of shops are Prada, Burberry, Armani, and Tiffany & Co. At the same time you can also grow a local McDonalds, Beackworks, and a Sears at the other end of the mall. receivable to its Cultural Diversity I decided to take on the challenge.Considering this, I arrived the location around 1000am (opening time) on Sunday September 30th. The soldiery of individuals roaming the mall were mostly women in different age groups, varying surrounded by 20-60 years of age. About 10 people who are walking in and out of the mall are observing me, my intuition is that being a female will prevent these women from feeling harassed and accept my hand shake. As I stood outside the second level Macys human being Entrance I approached the first individual, I ext finish my hand and smiled at this 20 something year-old Persian woman who pulled out of a white Escalade.She asked if I orked there and if I could guide her to the concierge desk, but she never welcomed my hand move. I immediately removed my arm feeling very uncomfortable and guide the way. Breaking this social norm in this case caused a negative informal sanction, and as a result the woman disregarded my hand shake and left me feeling disapproval. The second individual I approached was a Hispanic woman in her mid 30s with a stroller in hand, and a 5 year-old boy who seemed very much interested in greeting me. To my surprise, she pretended to have her hands tied up, and asked her son t o go for her hand so he would not get lost.Being ignored is a negative informal sanction and it made me feel existence ridicule along with rejection. However, a few minutes later an antique Caucasian woman walking out with her granddaughter acknowledged my greeting. When her grand-daughter did not react to my hand gesture she exclaimed, Honey dont be uncouth Where are your manners? and the grand-daughter finally welcomed my hand gesture. The urbane lady started talking to me about customs and traditions, and how people are not as polite as they used to be. She exclaimed that individuals are too focused on other things and forget their manners.Aside from the previous experiences, breaking this social norm ended in positive formal sanctions as a result of my gesture the lady smiled and complemented my actions. Correspondingly there were a few other individuals who real my greetings, while others looked the other way and pretended I was not there. Individuals who conk out acco rdingly to these norms often Theis?.. Almost every single thing we do in life is judged by a certain set of guidelines. When we are growing up, we are taught by our parents of what to do and what not to do.Of course, every sign lives by a different set of ideals and beliefs. It can be influenced by religion, the environment they live in, and what kind of government they abide by. However, the one unbroken which holds true in all households and societies are norms. Norms are established standards of behavior maintained by a society. Norms are important to a society because it pretty much keeps every citizen in a society in check with themselves and their behavior. Laws are not sufficient enough to keep a society at peace.The two types of norms that exist are ormal and informal. Formal norms are pretty much what we call laws in our society, while informal norms are pretty much norms in which there is a mutual organization among everyone in a society to follow. Norms can be viewed a s all the petty things and the serious things combined in which all citizens should abide by. It can be more important than laws in their judgment on looks, whether it is the assumption of ones skin, the clothes that one wears and even the way a person carries himself or herself, individuals make instant judgments based on these social prejudices.This perception based on appearance determines the behavior towards the person. A instrumentalist cushy In our textbook, Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach, Henslin defines social control as a groups formal and informal means of enforcing its norms. both prime examples of social control are positive and negative sanctions. A positive sanction is a reward or positive reaction for following norms. A positive sanction could possibly be prone to someone who tries to break and change norms in society for the advancement of the community. A good example of this would be Dr. Martin Luther Kings movement for genteel rights.A negative sanction is the opposite, an expression of disapproval for breaking a norm. These reactions can be severe and formal, or they can be loony and informal. How do these ideas of social control apply in the society created by Vonnegut in Player Piano? In the book Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, there are many examples of positive and negative sanctions. A perfect example of sanctions affecting lives in a dramatic way was the aptitude test taken by all citizens. If you do bad on it, then you have to live the rest of your life in the Army or in the Reeks and Wrecks.