Violating a Social Norm - Assignment Example

?Topic Violating a Social Norm Introduction The Social Norm The social norm which I choose to violate is to talk while travelling in a bus. I wouldget in a bus and would sit or stand as the situation demands. I would be dressed normal and would behave right for few minutes. Later I would start murmuring in a subtle way which people can only see but hear lightly. I would give a break and then would start again murmuring in little louder voice. Then I would look at the reaction of people around and would raise my voice. Then I would start talking in a subtle tone with little expression. I would talk by giving little gap so that people would not think I am doing it on purpose. I know that while travelling in a bus, all are conscious about the environment they are in as a public bus is a vehicle which has different types of people from various race, religion and culture. The behavior of people in a bus talks a lot about one individual’s attitude, mannerism and mental wellbeing. A person’s attitude in public places reflects his individuality as it is a space where many people engage and involve. Public places and vehicles are extremely delicate areas and any abnormal behavior can disrupt public interest and freedom. There is a social norm of behaving in a bus and violating it by talking to self can arise many reactions among public. According to (Changing Minds,2013)“Norms are often transmitted by non-verbal behavior, for example with 'dirty looks' when people act outside the norms. They may also be transmitted through stories, rituals and role-model behavior” Setting of Social Norm The setting to violate social norm which I chose is the public bus running on my route from school to home. As per (Langbert,2008)“Research across multiple settings suggests that youths’ perceptions of social norms have an immediate and lasting effect on their behaviors”.This bus leaves from school at 3.00 in evening and reaches my home around 3.45p.m.This is a public vehicle crowded most of the time and I tend to meet people of various age, culture, race and nationalities in it. This bus is one which have people whom I know, but still I would prefer this bus because it would give me varied reactions from all. This bus also has travelling of long time duration. The more time I get, the opportunity for me will be more to express my violation and experience it has on me and others. The bus is also a vehicle which brings in lot of people and ample time to fit physically in its environment. This social atmosphere of bus is highly accurate for violating a social norm. This is because bus is a social atmosphere which gives a profound impact on others and self. The reaction I can get from a bus is not possible from a train or an airplane. One reason for this is that, bus has population which is normal to middle class. To get a mixed reaction varied in nature, bus is socially an apt social environment to violate a norm. A bus is also a less costly option, wherein I need to spend less and get more freedom to move around. Social Norm Experience As I started to enter the bus, I found that the bus is crowded and there were no seats to settle down. The bus was more occupied by students of different age and teachers who were young, middle -aged and old. I being a student entered the bus casually and was noticed average by all, and I proceeded to stand in a corner of the bus. I wanted the rush of people to reduce a bit as this could aggravate reaction of people. I was seriously nervous before I was beginning to enact this process of violation of social norm. I have never done this before, and I very well know that doing such an act can have abnormal reciprocation from public. As I got a place to sit in the bus, I decided I would slowly start to enact violating the social norm of talking to self. I looked around and noticed people watching me and slowly started to talk to myself in a slow pace. It was more of a whispering, but people near me could hear it. During this process I felt strange, excited, anxious and risky. As my bus stop approached I got down of bus and walked to my home and was feeling the way in which violation against social norm can raise negative reactions. According to (Deutsh,2006,pg.36) “In the heat of conflict, there is often a tendency to violate the norms of co –operation”. Reaction on Social Norm Violation Reaction to this violation of social normal act was not as I expected .As I started to talk louder, some started to give strange expressions. Many people were looking at me and staring at my facial expression. Some people even enquired whether I am doing fine? One person also exclaimed that I am mentally unstable. This reaction really made me smile inside as I was feeling humorous about it. Quite a few children started to mock me and laugh at me which I found interesting. The real interesting and shocking part was that some older men were obnoxious and were giving rude looks. Some middle -aged and older women were murmuring to themselves like “what is wrong with him Is he alright”? I was going to be harmed by a boy and I was careful enough to escape that. This time I understood that, this really is a dangerous affair. Some young girls were laughing at me in group and they were commenting at my looks and psychic attitude. One person hit on my head and asked me to shut my mouth otherwise he will call police. At that moment, I panicked a lot and scared whether I would be handed over to police. However, my stop approached instantly and swiftly got out of the bus with peace of mind and a little wicked smile on my face. Conclusion Violating a social norm is an act of taboo and this can raise many negative attitude and behavior among public. The social norm is the set of beliefs and values which a society adopts in certain span of years. The social norm is a process where there is social control which means political and societal mechanism which restricts or controls the behavior of certain individuals or a group. I think, social norm is to be followed strictly in order to live in a society. The social control is practiced in a society or culture to bring about peace, personal freedom and avoid public nuisance. As per (Ross,2009,pg.9)“It is in the urban group, in fact, that social order finally parts company with social impulse”. After violating a social norm, I realized that representation of a social being is highly essential in a society. As per (Berkowitz,2001)“ Social norm intervention require that data be about actual and perceived norms collected”. A society consists of individuals from different culture, race, religion and country. I understood by this act that, man as asocial being need to do – operate among each other to engage in daily activities. I experienced that social beings have common interest to interact with each other and stay in harmony. Violating this concept can cause disruption to both people and society both. A person in a social setting has enormous power as he decides the welfare of a society. References Berkowitz, A. D. (2001). The Social Norms Approach to Violence Prevention. Inwww.vawn et.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013, from http://www.vawn et.org/assoc _files_v awnet/so cialno rms.pdf Changing Minds, . (2013). Social Norms. In www.changingminds.org. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/social_norms.htm Deutsch, M. (2006). The Handbook Conflict Resolution (2ndnd ed., p. 36). California: Jossey-Bass. Langbert, L. (2008). Positive Social Norms. In www.reachmilitaryfamilies.arizona.edu. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://reachmilitaryfamilies.arizona.edu/bo ok/export/html/904 Ross, E. A. (2009). Social Control (p. 19). New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Read More