Social Norm Paper

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What is a norm and who determines what is normal? Norms are often things that are dependent on many different things and have the flexibility to change over the course of time and the geographical location one is in. Norms are determined by what society as a whole deems as acceptable behavior as opposed to what isn’t acceptable or deviant behavior. It is through these norms that we (people of society) are able to better identify others or place them in groups or categories. Norms have a way of influencing conformity to processes and routines. Society doesn’t know or understand how to act or think when an individual goes outside of these set norms. The social norm violation that I decided to conduct was to say Pledge of Allegiance while wearing my underwear on the outside of my clothes during our annual Thanksgiving dinner. This is a big deal for me because I am not much of a people person. The entire day leading up to our …show more content…

My mom didn’t know what to say, they all just looked at me. I could feel myself getting warm so I am sure that my face was red. I started to eat my dinner while everyone made small talk. After dinner I helped wash the dishes and then everyone went to the living room to visit. It was then my family continued to ask me if I was okay or if I needed anything they were there to listen. Finally, I told them that it was actually for a school project to do something that would go against a social norm. They all laughed and started telling me that they were worried and that they have even talked to my fiancé about contacting my doctor to get me examined to see if I truly did go crazy. I was somewhat offended by this because they were judging me off of my actions that went against the societal norms that they (society)

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