Why People Break Norms And How People Respond

Document Type:Thesis

Subject Area:Sociology

Document 1

An example of a norm would be a handshake after an interview instead of a hug. While the society develops some norms, others are enforceable by law. For example, walk nude in the street may lead to the immediate arrest of a person. There are various categories of norms. Mores are those norms that are serious to violate, for example, the norm not to murder and steal. The human being must be regulated by the rules to govern themselves in a given social system. A social life without cohesion is impossible, and therefore a normative system is necessary for guidance. Groups that cannot develop normative order have minimal chances of survival due to lack of group cooperation. Norms influence attitudes and motives of individuals (Higgs, 39-40).

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Norms have a direct bearing on the person's self-conception. Examples of taboos include incest and cannibalism. Social values are cultural standards that are desirable to live an organized social life. Values assume what is necessary and right to the society. An excellent example of values would be "equality of opportunity. " Mores defines how the society does its things. Cultural shock involves personal disorientation that an individual feels when they move from one social environment to the other. Cultural shock is more familiar with people moving from one country to another. The fascination may accompany cultural shock with the new culture or anxiety about the differences between the old and the new culture. Description I broke the norm where I was expected to behave orderly in the bank.

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I walked into the banking hall while whistling and hurrying straight to the teller no minding those who were already patiently waiting in the queue. I felt a little frightened by the looks and the whispers and even wondered what they would say later. The explanation of this would be that people do not expect erratic behaviors in particular situations. Every social situation demands a specific set standard and expectations of proper behavior. These expectations vary from one place to the other or one group the next. One way of reading what people expected in the manner that they would stare at the person breaking the norm of their reactions, probably through laughter. Social indoctrination is the learning process that is developed from infancy and involves inculcation of patterns of beliefs.

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