Social Norms and Expectations
DeeDee Hensley
Bakersfield College
Soci B1 Society has certain expectations for everyone’s behavior. These expectations can differ between men and women, adults and children, and even between people of different ethnicities. In my experiment, I decided to test the expectation of women to be chaste and pure by sitting with my legs uncrossed while wearing a dress. Rather than sit next to people at tables with an empty seat, I would sit next to them while on the floor even though they would have an empty seat at the table. This experiment pushed social boundaries and comfort zones as many people felt uncomfortable with my behavior. While I committed my norm violation, I witnessed many others committing …show more content…
Folkways, such as holding the door open for someone, are not strictly enforced where as mores, those that are strictly enforced because society sees them as essential to well being, such as an unmarried young couple moving in together, or taboos, the strongest norms society can have. Incest and cannibalism exemplify social taboos. Along with norms, societies also have ways of rewarding or reprimanding, their inhabitants for not adhering to the norms. If someone breaks folkway norm, that individual would not face any serious consequences or sanctions. Most people would simply ignore the norm violation and go along with their business. If someone violates a more, they may face a verbal confrontation about their behavior and depending on the severity of their violation, they may face trouble with the law. However, if someone violates a taboo, the consequences are far more severe than the violation of a folkway or more. People also reward those who following social folkways and mores by praising them or giving them something beneficial to what they …show more content…
Everyone views folkways, mores, and taboos differently but still have positive or negative sanctions for those following or violating these norms. Most people ignored my vulgar behavior despite social norms saying women need to be refined. Perhaps no one commented on my violation because they as well violated norms and chose not to speak up about it such as I did when the woman brought her dog with her to the Financial Aid office or when the teenage male threw a tantrum in the food court of the Valley Plaza
DeeDee Hensley
Bakersfield College
Soci B1 Society has certain expectations for everyone’s behavior. These expectations can differ between men and women, adults and children, and even between people of different ethnicities. In my experiment, I decided to test the expectation of women to be chaste and pure by sitting with my legs uncrossed while wearing a dress. Rather than sit next to people at tables with an empty seat, I would sit next to them while on the floor even though they would have an empty seat at the table. This experiment pushed social boundaries and comfort zones as many people felt uncomfortable with my behavior. While I committed my norm violation, I witnessed many others committing …show more content…
Folkways, such as holding the door open for someone, are not strictly enforced where as mores, those that are strictly enforced because society sees them as essential to well being, such as an unmarried young couple moving in together, or taboos, the strongest norms society can have. Incest and cannibalism exemplify social taboos. Along with norms, societies also have ways of rewarding or reprimanding, their inhabitants for not adhering to the norms. If someone breaks folkway norm, that individual would not face any serious consequences or sanctions. Most people would simply ignore the norm violation and go along with their business. If someone violates a more, they may face a verbal confrontation about their behavior and depending on the severity of their violation, they may face trouble with the law. However, if someone violates a taboo, the consequences are far more severe than the violation of a folkway or more. People also reward those who following social folkways and mores by praising them or giving them something beneficial to what they …show more content…
Everyone views folkways, mores, and taboos differently but still have positive or negative sanctions for those following or violating these norms. Most people ignored my vulgar behavior despite social norms saying women need to be refined. Perhaps no one commented on my violation because they as well violated norms and chose not to speak up about it such as I did when the woman brought her dog with her to the Financial Aid office or when the teenage male threw a tantrum in the food court of the Valley Plaza