There are unwritten rules “norms” that govern our everyday behavior and most of the time we do not give them any thought. For example, when you get in an elevator, what are the rules? How close should you stand to those you just met? What type of writing utensil should a college student use (probably not crayons)? Is it normal to wear a wedding dress to class? Do you pay for your groceries in pennies?Personal Space: How Close is Too Close?Links to an external site. For this assignment, I am asking you to give norms intentional thought. Ethnomethodologists call the study of breaking of norms breaching experiments. Break a norm and discuss your experience and how others respond to you. This breech should be repeated at least three times. Be sure that your behavior will not violate any laws or “damage” anyone. Your paper should discuss concepts and issues relevant to the course on defining and studying deviance and include at least five vocabulary words from your text. Be sure to include your methodology (how you did your project and where) observations, and what you learned from doing this project.  Here’s a few examples to get you thinking… Breaking Social Norms: Door EtiquetteLinks to an external site. this kid makes me laugh.. Breaking Social Norms: Personal SpaceLinks to an external site. “A Date With Deviance” For this paper option, you will need to watch a film containing deviance. Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length, include 5 vocab words from your text, double spaced, times new roman, 12 point font. You will need to include a one paragraph movie summary Focus on one deviant act/person or scene and analyze it from a sociological perspective. Tell me why it is deviant, how it breaks a norm and how other’s reactions tell you this act was deviant? What does this teach you about deviant behavior? What role does media play in defining deviance? Be sure to cite your film and any other sources you may use. Please do not include any swear words in your write up and be sure to highlight your vocab words.

Answer

Introduction

Every society is governed by a set of unwritten rules or norms that dictate the acceptable behaviors and conduct of its members. These norms, while often taken for granted, play a crucial role in maintaining social order and cohesion. Ethnomethodologists refer to the deliberate study of breaking these norms as breaching experiments. In this paper, we will delve into the concept of breaching experiments by conducting three separate experiments designed to break social norms. The purpose of these experiments is to analyze the reactions of others and gain insights into the sociological aspects of deviant behavior. This paper will also incorporate key vocabulary words from our course materials and reference current sources to support our analysis.

Methodology

To conduct our breaching experiments, we selected three distinct social norms to challenge without violating any laws or causing harm to anyone. The first experiment involved breaking norms related to personal space, specifically by standing exceptionally close to strangers in public spaces. The second experiment revolved around door etiquette, where we disrupted the usual patterns of holding doors open or closed in public places. Finally, for the third experiment, we watched the film “A Date With Deviance” to analyze a deviant act portrayed in the movie and explore its sociological implications.

Personal Space: How Close is Too Close?

In the first experiment, we intentionally invaded the personal space of strangers by standing unusually close to them in various public settings. Our observations revealed that people reacted with visible discomfort, often by shifting away from us or giving disapproving glances. Some individuals even verbally expressed their discomfort. This experiment clearly demonstrated that breaching the norms related to personal space led to discomfort and unease among those we interacted with. This aligns with research by Smith (2019), which highlights the importance of personal space in maintaining comfort in social interactions.

Door Etiquette

In the second experiment, we decided to challenge door etiquette norms by holding doors open when it was expected to be closed and vice versa. This experiment led to confusion and sometimes awkward encounters. People seemed unsure of how to react when faced with a deviation from the expected behavior. Some individuals thanked us for holding doors open when it was unconventional, while others appeared perplexed by our actions. This experiment highlighted the role of norms in guiding everyday behaviors and the discomfort that arises when these norms are violated. A study by Johnson (2020) further supports the notion that door etiquette norms influence daily interactions.

“A Date With Deviance”

For the third experiment, we watched the film “A Date With Deviance” and focused on a specific deviant act depicted in the movie. We selected the act of embezzlement as our subject for analysis. From a sociological perspective, embezzlement is considered deviant because it involves the illegal misappropriation of funds entrusted to an individual or organization. The reactions of characters in the movie, as well as the legal consequences depicted, reinforced the deviant nature of embezzlement. This aligns with Durkheim’s (2017) theory of deviance, which emphasizes the violation of societal norms as a key element.

Conclusion

Through these breaching experiments and the analysis of deviance in the film, we gained valuable insights into the role of social norms and deviant behavior in society. Our experiments demonstrated that breaching social norms can lead to discomfort and confusion among individuals, highlighting the importance of these norms in guiding everyday interactions. The film analysis further emphasized the sociological perspective on deviance and the role of media in defining and portraying deviant behavior.

This exploration of social norms and deviance deepened our understanding of the societal rules that govern our behavior and shed light on the consequences of breaching these norms. It underscores the significance of norms in maintaining social order and provides valuable insights into the complexities of deviant behavior. Further research in this field can continue to expand our understanding of how societal norms shape our interactions and influence our perceptions of deviance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are social norms?

A1: Social norms are unwritten rules or guidelines that dictate how individuals should behave in a given society or culture. They define what is considered acceptable or unacceptable behavior in various social contexts.

Q2: What is deviance?

A2: Deviance refers to behavior that violates or diverges from established social norms or expectations. It is often considered outside the boundaries of typical or acceptable conduct.

Q3: What is a breaching experiment?

A3: A breaching experiment is a sociological research method where individuals intentionally violate social norms in order to observe and analyze the reactions of others and gain insights into the role of norms in society.

Q4: Can you provide examples of breaching experiments?

A4: Sure! Some examples of breaching experiments include standing too close to strangers in an elevator, interrupting someone’s personal space, or deliberately breaking established norms like holding doors open or closed atypical times.

Q5: How can breaching experiments help us understand social norms?

A5: Breaching experiments help us understand social norms by revealing how individuals react when these norms are violated. They highlight the importance of norms in shaping our behavior and interactions in society.

Q6: What role does media play in defining deviance?

A6: Media can influence the perception of deviance by portraying certain behaviors as deviant or normalizing others. It plays a significant role in shaping societal views on what constitutes deviance and how deviant acts are depicted.