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