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Breaking A Social Norm Experiment

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Chestnut Hill College
Rachael K. Becht
UEPS 250 Social Psychology
PDE #2

PDE 2 For this assignment, I was asked to break a social norm. Social norms are rules that govern our behavior or the way we act or how we should behave. These social norms are what clarifies what is acceptable and what is not in society. The social science experiment I conducted involved me violating a social norm and observing the reactions I would get from those around me, for doing something out of the norm, according to society’s standards. For this experiment I decided to stand backwards in an elevator, and not only stand backwards but close my eyes. The acceptable norm is standing in an elevator facing the door. I decided on this experiment and figured I could take full advantage during my trip to the Montgomery county court house during my child support hearing. …show more content…
This experiment showed the significance of social norms and how much social norms play a role in society and the way in which people, as individuals, act. The social norm I broke proved to be significant in how people saw me and how they reacted. just standing the wrong way in the elevator changed the way some people felt, and they started to feel uncomfortable. because my actions went against the social norm it proved to generate strong reactions. As I entered the court house I was nervous about conducting this experiment. I wasn’t sure how people would respond or if I would get in trouble or have someone notify security because my behavior would be so out of the norm. Not only was this experiment degrading and eye-opening, but I learned that there are many social norms that aren’t even formally stated, they are simply unwritten rules that society naturally abides

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