Definition Essay: Defining Norm

Following the customs and fashion of a social group is a key part of social interaction. For example, stated in Kivisto, “To follow custom is to be accepted by your group” (101). When a person is involved in a group, it is easy to be accepted when you follow the customary behavior and fashions of that group. This customary behavior provides security of knowing what is right within a group without the social risk associated with individual choice (101). In many instances, it is often easier to follow the group norms instead of taking the risk of making an individual decision. Simmel had many thoughts about fashion and customs. Stated in the text, “Simmel thought that, in his time, fashion was escaping the bounds of mere personal accouterments

When researching the topic of social norms and norm violations, there is an ongoing list. This is because almost everything we do in society is based on these social norms. If/when these are broken it can be punished as little as someone giving a dirty look, or as large as severe jail time. Social norms come into existence when a society does a specific task over and over until it becomes a normal occurrence. One of the biggest concerns is the war on drugs. Marijuana use is harshly punishments yet causes little to none negative effects. On the other hand, we have tobacco which there are barely any laws on yet it is killing thousands of Americans.

A social norm that exists and its values are taught at an early age to control and maintain order is line etiquette. This social norm exists in various instances to provide an expectation of acceptable behavior when driving a car, shopping, waiting to watch a movie or various other events. In elementary school, children learn to stand it line and wait their turn for numerous activities. During a fire drill, children learn to line up and follow the teacher when exiting the building. This control helps to ensure that everyone exits the building safely. During lunch, children wait in line until it is their turn to receive their lunch. This helps to maintain order, so that everyone obtains a lunch. By not waiting in line for tickets to a movie at a theater, I have chosen to violate this social norm. I will cut to the front of the line and attempt to pay for my tickets.

The postmodern attitude greatly differs from the iconic and traditional values of the past. This change in attitude is a natural evolution caused by the a shift in worldviews. Thus, the values and belief systems of the 1970’s placed emphasis on optimism and censorship. Whereas, the postmodern mentality is characterized by pessimism and cynicism. This paradigm shift in values over time is directly a result of advancements in technology. Through the use of media such as television and social networks, the modern world has ushered in an era of free information exchange and high-speed communication. Progress, however, is a double-edged sword; on one hand, the globe has become well-connected, but on the other hand, anonymity allows negativity and hostility to run rampant. Therefore, increased exposure to technology in the postmodern world has lead to a society with a generally negative outlook on life. The difference between image #1 and image #2 visually represents the shift in attitude from positive to negative, from

2. What is a norm? How do norms operate to define deviancy? To answer this question, you should first define what a norm is and, then, explain how norms work in everyday life. Refer to assigned reading material to illustrate your answer. You may find the materials on Blackboard helpful in answering this question.

Norms are the expectations, or rules of behavior that develop to reflect and enforce values. A norm violation is when a person goes against a certain way that culture and society expects one to act. When going against the norm it means that you are doing something that is not acceptable to one’s society or their culture. Normative behavior is expected to be in every culture. For example, in our society men and women have the freedom to wear whatever they please, we are allowed to show our legs, arms, feet etc. because its an expression of who we are and what we like. In the Muslim culture when a women reaches puberty no part of her body should remain uncovered except the face and the hand up to the wrist joint. If the Muslim woman wore shorts and a t-shirt it would be considered a violation of a norm. But because this violation differs from our American Society it wouldn’t be considered weird or strange to wear shorts and a tee.

A norm is a standard behavior that is expected from a group of individuals. People must live by the expectations that their culture has set for them. Culture seems to have a major influence on people’s cognition. Ethan Watters believes that culture influences people. In “Being Weird”, Watters explores anthropologist Joe Henrich’s research on how culture shapes the world around us. Julia Serano also talks about culture in her essay “Why Nice Guys Finish Last”. Serano addresses how sexuality culture shapes the mindset of male and female, and the issues it creates in society. She goes on to argue how rape culture is normalized by the predator/prey mindset that culture embedded. Rape culture dominates individuals’ mindsets which causes

@Erik – Excellent and detailed analysis of the dynamics, behavior changes and outcomes during the residency. Great parallels drawn on the lack of “safe space” to share and collaborate. To answer your question about material that has helped me identify the importance of the Eight dimensions, I have to say that: if Kate and Larry’s “Designing Effective Knowledge Networks” helped me gain some academic insights then a reread of James Graham’s Illustrations on “What google learned from its quest to build a perfect team” helped me understand how these dimensions play into team dynamics and their behaviors.

The norm is a human made invention. Being attracted to the same gender has always fabled many individuals. In the podcast three issues arose about the LGBTQ lifestyle to better humanize the issues we have to today by providing the listener a biological, theological, and the social stance in the reasoning of the LGBTQ in a story structured conversation. By individuals that that tried to stay true to their faith and sexual orientation, individuals to have more compassion for people than themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation, individuals that have honestly tried to change their perspective in their attractiveness to the same sex, and people that can't follow the word of god because they believe they are living a sinful life by their sexual orientation.

From a sociological perspective, social norms are informal understandings that govern the behavior of members of a society. Norms are social expectations, establishes rules of behavior or standards of conduct. Norms explain why people do what they do in given situations. Norms are regarded as collective representations of acceptable group conduct as well as individual perceptions of group conduct. They can be viewed as cultural products, customs, traditions which represent individuals’ basic knowledge of what others do and think that they should do. Norms are usually done for research purpose to see that people think and how they react.

A techie ever nimble likewise daring Yet never wholly feeling neither barring A guru clever-minded very nerdy However quarrels published never sturdy Upon his bosom a tee currently drawn A glitzy canvas showing hoary Arawn Aloft his shoulders a gray sweater hanging No student notices hidden outlook gangling Surrounding midriff denim covers baggy Strands at the ankle naked very draggy Gray heavy backpack touching shoulder ample

Throughout this essay the subject of discussion shall be the correlation between the new ideal of absence of “being” within visual culture and the idealistic norm throughout our society of materialistic attitudes. Materialistic attitudes have been past down for generations, in previous years, due to advertisements, celebrity orientated western culture and the all round of money playing the largest parts in our lives. People tend to identify large amounts of money alongside comfort and freedom – throughout this essay it will be tackled onto whether this is true or whether this is a fictional

One group may consider a norm prescriptive while another group might regard it as proscriptive. In the United States, kissing the cheek of our friend is regarded as prescriptive folkway but it is proscriptive mores among Muslims especially when it is done in opposite sexes because this is considered strange. Chinese locals in Guangzi province consider eating live fish a prescriptive folkway but the Chinese in some part of Hongkong call it an unusual eating behavior. Moreover, norms like eating bugs in Thailand, Nepal and Malaysia is a prescriptive folkway but it is proscriptive folkway in some neighboring countries like Singapore and Taiwan. This is a proof that norms vary. Also, norms in one group may be considered prescriptive during one time and it may later be considered as proscriptive or vice versa from proscriptive to prescriptive. For example, the Protestants 20 years ago frown at going to theatres or pubs but now it is an accepted folkway. The Pakistanis and Indians prescribe the wearing of turban in their ancient culture but now we can see it to be proscriptive in some cultural groups especially those who are in the United States. Again, this also a proof that norms constantly

Have you ever been at a funeral and felt completely baffled because one of the guests decided to wear neon colors? Would you not be taken aback if one day, you came home to find your father and his sister interacting with each other sexually? Is this normal? How are social norms defined? Social norms are behaviors that are considered acceptable in a group or society. However, there are many types of norms and each type have their own set of “rules”. Tacit rules are rules that are generally understood but are not precisely recorded. Tacit rules, if broken can not be punished with legal action. The guest wearing neon colors to the funeral and the father and his sister committing incest were both examples tacit rules, however there are no

We would like to add: What changes need to be made to fix these problems? By adding this question you allow input by the employees and give them the sense of playing a part in this transition. This helps cut some of the resistance to change when workers feel they had a part in making that decision.