Observation about How Norms Are Practiced in a Society - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages Societies are governed by laws and rules that were made by its participants to regulate and maintain behavior in a said group or society. They act as social controls and they are maintained by social sanctions. When one is in a group, it is expected that he/she would follow, or at least act acceptable, the rules of behavior in the said group as they represent the do’s and don’ts of society. Failing to do so would mean deviance. Deviance is “nonconformity to a set of norms” (Appelbaum). Sometimes, when nonconformity is too much, it is stigmatized. Social stigma is a reaction to someone who is differing in norms. Sometimes, when the violation is too intense, the deviant is outcast in the society, or worse, punished. However, there are also norms that can be irrational. They can be even pragmatic. Most manners are like this. For example, in Asia it is polite not to look someone directly in the eye while talking, but not so in the United States. However stringent sometimes norms are actually highly contextual and variable. They change according to society’s needs and interests. They often change from one generation to the other (hence, the generation gap) or from one social class to another. Norms vary from place to place. However, there are some universal norms. These taboos are usually the prohibition of certain kinds of human activity. They usually relate to sex and death like adultery, incest, murder, cannibalism, etc. These taboos are exceptionally useful is keeping harmony in a society as it keeps deviant acts like crimes from happening. For this activity, I am required to observe two norms and break one. This would entail being in a public place and observing the participants in it. This would include observing the norms and the patterns of the people in it.  ...Download file to see next pagesRead More