Norm Violation Assignment

Conduct a “breaching experiment.” This “experiment” will require you to identify, observe and then violate a social norm, and to record what happens in response to your norm violation.

Preparation for the Assignment
1. Select a norm from the list below. Preferably this will be a norm that is part of your ongoing social routine.
You must select a norm from this list. If you have an idea that is not on this list, you MUST get approval prior to conducting this ‘experiment’.
• Violate someone’s personal space by standing too close.
• Eat food (like spaghetti) with your hands. Eat food (like a hamburger) with a knife and fork.
• Stand at the front of the elevator, facing backwards.
• Use your “outside voice” inside and vice versa.
• Dress very formally for a casual event, or vice versa (as long as you will not get into trouble!).
• Sit next to a person in an otherwise empty movie theater and strike up a conversation.
• When someone asks you how you are, tell them about your entire day.
• Strike up a conversation with the person in the bathroom stall (or urinal!) next to you.
• Get your own drink at a ‘sit-down’ restaurant.
• Do not look at a person who is talking to you…or, look at them *too* much

2. Go out and observe this norm “in action.” That is, do nothing. Simply observe the way this norm operates in everyday life. Pay attention to details in order to understand how this norm functions to regulate some type of behavior. This will enable you to make a thoughtful comparison when you violate the norm and observe the reactions of others. Make sure to think about:
a. The specific norm you are observing.
b. The behavior this norm is designed to regulate. Is this norm designed to regulate behavior in a particular setting (church, school, elevators, etc) or is it a norm that operates in day-to-day settings throughout our society?
c. Why do you think this norm might exist? ie, what purpose does it serve?

The Assignment
3. Once you have observed the norm at work, violate this norm (be sure to do so without harming another person).

4. Observe the response of others in the social setting. Make sure to note:
a. Any sanctions (actions taken to correct your behavior) incurred for violating this norm
b. The reactions of those around you.

5. In a 1-2 page response, summarize your experience. To receive full credit, your response must:
a. Describe the norm you violated (including your observations of this norm ‘in action’).
b. Reflect on how this norm serves to regulate behavior in the social world and how its’ violation might cause a disruption to social order.
c. Record how you chose to violate the norm.
d. Note your feelings about violating this norm (were you anxious or nervous? How might that be related to the expectation that you should follow the norms?)
e. Note any actions taken by others to bring about social order.