Running Wild Research Paper

Running Wild is a reality show that brings different kind of celebrities to go on an adventure with the host, Bear Grylls. The show records the celebrities trying to adapt and survive in an entirely different place, the countryside. They have to use their own strength not only to survive, but to perform special tasks under the extreme condition of the wild. The celebrities panic because they are staying in an unfamiliar place. But they stay and try to solve the problem. I would like to talk about a particular episode of the show, Running Wild with Shaq O’ Neal. Shaq is a successful basketball player. He is well known for his powerful moves on the basketball court. We can see different kind of values from him, such as Efficiency and Practicality,

Norms are the expectation or rules for behavior. (Slide 16, Ch2, PPT) In the show, Bear asks Shaq about his interesting experiences while he was playing in the NBA. Shaq admitted that, at first he was not polite or friendly towards an Asian basketball player, Yao Ming. He had never spoken or had any interaction with Yao Ming on the court, until Shaq’s father persuaded him to meet Ming. After the meeting with his father, Shaq changes his attitude and apologizes to Ming. I think we can see a norm Folkway though the relation between Shaq and Yao Ming. Folkway is the norms that are not strictly enforced. (Slide 17, Ch2, PPT) At first, Shaq has an assumption that Yao Ming does not like him, so he did not talk to him. Shaq won’t receive any serious consequences if he keeps on using his own perspective to judge Yao Ming. However, people might think Shaq’s conduct is unethical and immoral. As a result, Shaq’s father gave him a negative sanction in which he tried to persuade Shaq to change his attitude towards different players in the League. Sanction is the reactions people receive for breaking or following norms. (Slide 19, Ch2, PPT) In the end, Shaq listens to his father’s advice and changes his attitude towards everyone. He finally talks with Yao Ming. From the transformation in Shaq and Yao Ming’s relationship, we can clearly see that there is a norm Folkway existing and it affects them by building their friendship. On the other hand, we can see his father’s influence causes a negative sanction which gives him tremendous pressures to break the norm and correct his