Question

1. We often conform to social norms without even realizing it. Can you remember a time when you, someone else you know, or an individual in history who broke a social norm? For example: Getting in a crowded elevator and turning to face everyone instead of staring at the door or instead of holding the door open for a person behind you, purposely shut the door, etc.  
2. Write a brief essay in which you explain what a social norm is. Then describe what you or the person you know or read about did to break a social norm. Write how you feel or felt about it and how the others around reacted. Then think about all the things you do in your daily life that are going along with social norms. Comment on whether you consider yourself a "conformist" or a "nonconformist," explain why you think this, and if your definition of a "conformist" or the way you view yourself has changed as a result of this exercise.

Answer 1

Social norms are unwritten laws that evolved over a period of time that are relevant to a particular culture or society in question. This would mean that people learn these norms through the interaction with others by internalizing rewards or punishments that are related in terms of violating or following those norms. Once I and some of my friends went for a picnic and we needed to buy some confectionaries. So, we decided to go to a nearby convenience store and purchase. When we got there, we noticed that there was a queue waiting to be served. We had a train to be caught but we cannot violate the norm of following the queue. However, one of my friends decided to just walk to the cashier and pay for it. Although the cashier insisted to follow the queue, my friend demanded that he be served immediately as he was in an emergency. All those waiting in the queue were startled and exchanged a glance of disapproval while some even shook their head. My friend didn’t seem to mind any of these and got the things and came out of the store triumphant. I felt that others would also be in a hurry but they waited patiently but I couldn’t help but approve my friend’s action. In this case all of us were non-conformists because we could have very well told our friend not to violate the queue norms.

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