The Social Norm Project: Performance Task

Performance Task:

Working in groups of 2-3, select a context and violate a social norm. Use digital media to record the response from the people in the setting that you have selected. Upload the video onto the class YouTube site. Editing, captions, and video quality are part of the grading rubric.

Instructions:

·         Identify a specific social context

·         Choose a behavior which you will perform in the particular setting.

·         Explain how the behavior is a violation of social norm.

·         Capture and evaluate the response of at least ten subjects.

·         Only one person needs to enact the behavior. However, more people in your group may participate.

·         In order to receive equal credit, the other two group members must take on the tasks of staging the activities and writing the summary.

·         Review each of the videos in the class and post a substantial comment on what you have learned from their project.

Think about the variety of social contexts and identify the social norms, or standards, for each setting.

·         How should you dress?

·         How should you speak? And what do you talk about?

·         What constitutes acceptable behavior?

·         What constitutes unacceptable behavior?

Guidelines: The social norm may not be in violation of laws, damage property, put anyone in danger, cause disrespect of people or property, or distract from the learning environment during the course of the day. Such violations will result in an automatic failing grade. However, if the students wish to explore the social norms on school campus, the group must obtain written permission from the administrator or teacher and give full explanation of the assignment.

Disclaimer: While YouTube video is entertaining, not all online community members are discreet with their opinions. Public profiles are also subject to criticism from viewers who are not part of the class.

View Sample Videos:

Rachel Slovak: Social Norms Experiment

Allison and Nemo: Social Norm Violations

The Social Norm Experiment: Memes

Introducing Memes:

In the 21st century, media plays a central role in the sharing of cultural and social norms.

The Overly Attached Girlfriend parodies a person who is socially awkward in a humorous light. Raina, the creator of the character, re-wrote the lyrics to Justin Beiber’s song Boyfriend and published herself singing a YouTube video; the video has received over 16 million views.

What is a meme, and what is the idea behind the meme?

A meme (/ˈmiːm/; meem) is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture" (Merriam Webster). The word is derived from the Greek word mimeme which means to imitate. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000).  The Internet meme of the overly attached girlfriend has also become an iconic symbol that is replicated and shared across many different social networks. Internet meme generators like Quick Memes provide popular images to caption and share on the Web.

Answer the following questions as comments below:

1. Who is this?
2. What do you call this type of image?
3. How would you describe the character traits of this person?
4. If she were a real person, what social norms would she be violating?

meme. (2011). The American heritage dictionary of the English language. 5^th ed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

The Social Norm Experiment: Background Information

Background Information: 

·         What is a social norm? A social norm is an unspoken “standard of behavior shared by members of a social group” (Merriam Webster).

·         Internal motivation: Norms may come from a person’s own motivation to adapt to social surroundings despite any external rewards or punishments. An individual from Europe may be accustomed to standing inches from another person when having a conversation. Prior to travelling, that person may learn that the average between two conversing parties in United States is two feet. In order to adapt to the American norm of personal space, the person from another culture will adjust his or her speaking distance. Proximity between two conversing parties is an example of a social norm.

·         External motivation: Positive and negative enforcement may come from outside of the individual. A clique of friends, or society as a whole are examples of different types of social units sharing particular norms. A social group at school may share a certain style of fashion. In order to belong to the group, and not feel awkward, an individual may conform by dressing like the other people in the clique.

·         Values vs. Norms: Values are general; norms are more definite. For example, politeness is a value, but the rules defining polite behavior in a particular context is an example of a social norm.

Social norm. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social norm

The Social Norm Experiment: Solo Flash Mob

1. Watch Solo Flash Mob. 

What is this person doing that is out of the norm?

2. Answer the following questions:

• Identify a social norm.
• How do the expectations vary in different social contexts?
• In your opinion, why do people conform?
• Is social conformity good or bad?
• What determines which social norms are good or bad?

3. Social Context: Write a list of places you go to throughout the week. 

    Categories:

• Home
• School
• Public Places
• Other