sociology

Breaking a Social Norm Options

As mentioned in the directions for Project/Reflection #1, here is a list of norms that you may choose from. If you have another idea, please make sure you speak to me about it first :)  

1. Wear winter clothes on a hot day

2. Wear something "weird" in general 

3. Pay for something only with coins

4. Ask the employee at a fast food restaurant if you can serve your own fries

5. Go to McDonalds and play in the play area with another adult friend (NOTE: this one requires you go with another adult friend. Do not go and play in the area by yourself -- we don't want to scare the kids or their parents)

6. When someone asks you "How are you," don't say "fine" or "good"

7. Burp out loud at a restaurant

8. Go to the gym and use the equipment in your regular day clothes (i.e., not in gym clothes)

9. Go to the gym when it is pretty empty and not all the treadmills are being used. When someone goes on one of the treadmills, ask them how long they're going to be because you want to use that treadmill (meanwhile, there are other treadmills not being used).

10. Talk to strangers on an elevator

11. Stand very close to a stranger on the elevator as you look at your phone (NOTE: do not stare at the other person. Also, remember who you are & who they are in this process -- you don't want to unnecessarily intimidate someone).

12. At the checkout in line at the store, move one or some of the items of the person behind you onto your side of the divider. (NOTE: as with all the others, be careful and stop the experiment immediately if the person gets upset)

13. When a lot of people are standing on an escalator, start walking and asking people to move out your way.

14. At a drive-thru, order a meal without any drinks but ask for a cup holder

15. Hug a friend you don't usually hug when you greet them (Note: again, remember who you & who the other person is. It may be safer to do this with someone who is of the same gender). 

16. Go for a run at Lake Murray but run on the incorrect side of the road (as always, stop this experiment if people get visibly angry). 

17. Ask family members to not wear the same shoes inside and outside the house.

18. Sit at the same table as a stranger in the Student Center -- NOTE, though, that you should not stare at them. Just sit there and do your work. Also, as I stated in class, be aware of "who you are" -- that is, your potential influence on others -- in deciding which table to sit at. 

19. Start picking your nose while talking with someone.

20. Go to a restaurant, order your food, and then pull out your own silverware, napkins, etc.

21. Lick a plate at a restaurant.

22. Go to the beach in jeans and then go in the water. 

23. Speak very loudly at a restaurant (NOTE: don't keep this up too long if/when it starts to really bother others)

24. Stand backwards on the escalator

25. Eat at a sit-down restaurant but eat standing up

26. Go to a fast-food restaurant and order something not on the menu (ex: order a Whopper at McDonalds)

27. The following should be done with caution and, with all the others, stopped immediately if anyone becomes visibly upset. Also, this applies to men who use the men's restroom: go into the restroom to use the urinal, and say "What a day" to another stranger in the bathroom. 

Please be sure to check back for any additions to this list!