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Social Mettle

A List of Quirky Ideas for Social Norm Breaching Experiments

Suppose there is a game in which you are not allowed to say 'yes' or 'no', and have to answer only with another question. Using up the entire range of 'wh-questions', you can think of how entertaining this game can get. Social norm breaching is nothing different than this.

Suppose there is a game in which you are not allowed to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and have to answer only with another question. Using up the entire range of ‘wh-questions’, you can think of how entertaining this game can get. Social norm breaching is nothing different than this.

No Suggestions Implied! While a Superman costume flaunting an underwear is taken well, someone wearing undergarments over normal clothes (that too at a fancy dress party) becomes an act of breach! Unfair, isn’t it!

Eating with your hands while dining at a fancy restaurant, wearing your bathrobe to college one day, sending a reply via email when someone had called you on your cell phone, or talking to a stranger by getting very close to him/her, and such similar deeds are ones that a normal human being would usually avoid doing.

If you have tried any of these, you can be called a researcher who was engaged in studying social norm breaching experiments. Such kind acts of nonsense, which you may call bizarre, are not solely meant for entertainment purposes. This testing of socially accepted rules are mainly a part of the fields of sociology and social psychology. Yes, academics can get very interesting at times!

What are Breaching Experiments in Sociology?

Breaching experiments try to study the reactions of people when a social norm is broken or violated.

There are some unwritten rules that all of us follow in our day-to-day conduct. How one would (rather should) behave in a given situation is predefined and based on a lot of assumptions. These experiments try to break these ‘taken for granted’ social norms. Reactions of others to such tricks are also fun to look at. This concept is associated with the ethnomethodology theory of sociology , put forth by Harold Garfinkel.

An unexpected behavior or comment leaves the respondent completely puzzled, making the experiment successful. The approach behind such experiments highlights that, people continue to make a number of such rules everyday, and do not even realize it.

Experiment Ideas

Clearly, a breaching experiment is like asking for trouble. When the action is troublesome, it makes it visible that practices leading to social stability are so much ingrained into our minds. Breaching of norms has to be a deliberate act though; it is not an issue of conflicting opinions leading to disobedience of a given norm. You can try troubling others with the following ideas.

– To a casual question like ‘what’s up?’, you can say ‘the sky’. ‘How’s it going?’ can be replied to in an exhilarating manner, like ‘I didn’t see any ‘it’ going’. When people are not really interested in knowing about you, and they still ask those questions, you may actually stop them and really explain to them some random event going on in your life. (Be very sure about who you want to experiment with this though!)

– Some tests that college students were asked to take, involved behaving like a stranger or renter in one’s home. Talking only when asked about something, or being very polite, are some things their parents reacted to quite strongly.

– In the tic-tac-toe game, ask a person to play first. When he/she places an ‘X’ in a square, you place an ‘O’ on a line forming the matrix, and not in any square space. That person might get confused, or would exclaim, “Have you gone crazy?” Behaving according to the established practices of following given rules is so important here, even if it is a game. This exemplifies an established social order.

– At a decently crowded public place, get one of your friends to stand opposite you. You act like both of you are talking about something important. Then, act as if the both of you are holding a very thin and delicate cotton string in your fingertips, each one of you holding one end of it. Now, start to move away, very slowly, so that people feel that you are holding something very precious. Shout out words like, ‘easy’, ‘be careful’, or ‘watch out’. You may find a few people actually believing you and ducking while they pass through. Someone might even go around you, so as to not break that string. You would notice, it is very easy to create social norms.

Experiment Examples

Here are some examples of interpersonal conversations, mentioned in ethnomethodology literature as case studies of experimentation given by Garfinkel. These have been sourced from books like ‘Garfinkel and Ethnomethodology’ by John Heritage, and ‘Sociology in Perspective’ by Mark Kirby.

– The subject was telling the experimenter―a member of the subject’s car pool―about having had a flat tire while going to work the previous day.

S : I had a flat tire. E : What do you mean, you had a flat tire? She appeared momentarily stunned. Then she answered in a hostile way: ‘What do you mean? What do you mean? A flat tire is a flat tire. That is what I a meant. Nothing special. What a crazy question!’

– By asking ‘What do you mean?’, as a response to every statement, students were asked to continue the conversation.

S : Hi, Ray. How is your girlfriend feeling? E : What do you mean ‘How is she feeling?’. Do you mean physically or mentally? S : I mean how is she feeling? What’s the matter with you? (He looked peeved.) E : Nothing. Just explain a little clearer as to what you mean. S : Skip it. How are your Med School applications coming? E : What do you mean ‘How are they going?’ S : You know what I mean. E : I really don’t. S : What’s the matter with you? Are you sick?

– On Friday night, my husband and I were watching television. He remarked that he was tired. I asked, ‘How are you tired? Physically, mentally, or just bored?’

S : I don’t know, I guess physically, mainly. E : You mean that your muscles ache, or your bones? S : I guess so. Don’t be so technical. (After more watching) S : All these old movies have the same kind of old iron bedstead in them. E : What do you mean? Do you mean all old movies, or some of them, or just the ones you have seen? S : What’s the matter with you? You know what I mean. E : I wish you would be more specific. S : You know what I mean! Drop dead!

– The victim waived his hand cheerily.

S : How are you? E : How am I in regard to what? My health, my finance, my school work, my peace of mind, my … S : (Red in the face and suddenly out of control.) Look! I was just trying to be polite! Frankly, I don’t give a damn how you are.

The results from these cases proved that the experimenters could successfully break the norms. It was possible because of the fact that, any given conversation (or communication) takes place smoothly, ‘assuming the background knowledge’, which helps two people make sense of what the other means.

Well, if you’ve got the point now, you can be real ‘innovative and original’ with this act of breaching. Oh, but just be sure that you don’t mess with the wrong people at the wrong time.

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49+ Unique Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas You Must Try!

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas are a fun way to learn about people’s actions. They let you try new things and see what happens. 

When you do something different, you learn why we do things the way we do. 

These projects help you think about everyday rules. You might find that some rules have a good reason, while others are just habits. 

These projects can be funny and teach us about people and society. You can learn to see the world in new ways. 

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas are great for anyone who likes to explore and learn about how people work together.

Also Read: 19+ Library Management System Project Ideas for Students

Table of Contents

What Are Social Norms?

Social norms are unwritten rules that guide how people behave in a society. They shape interactions, dress, and communication, helping maintain order. Norms can be descriptive (what people do) or injunctive (what people should do), based on values. 

They are learned through observation and vary across cultures. Unlike laws, norms are enforced by social pressure. Examples include queuing, using polite language, and respecting personal space. Norms change as societies evolve.

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas

Here’s a list of breaking social norms project ideas under different niches:

• Teach a class while sitting on the floor
• Write essays using only emojis
• Hold a “backwards day” where everything is done in reverse order
• Have a “no shoes” policy for a day
• Conduct meetings while walking outside
• Use children’s musical instruments for office sound effects

Public Transportation:

• Offer free hugs to fellow passengers
• Read books upside down on the bus
• Wear a different hat every stop and switch with others

Restaurants:

• Order dishes by drawing them instead of speaking
• Bring your own unique cutlery, like oversized spoons
• Ask for your meal to be served in unconventional containers
• Shop while dressed as your favorite book character
• Use a toy shopping cart in a real store
• Barter with monopoly money instead of real currency
• Do exercises in slow motion at the gym
• Wear a fancy ball gown to a yoga class
• Use household items as workout equipment in the park

Technology:

• Use an old-school typewriter at a coffee shop
• Communicate only through handwritten notes for a day
• Wear a VR headset while walking in the city
• Wear clothes from a different century for a week
• Create outfits using only items of one color
• Swap traditional gender-specific clothing styles
• Paint with unconventional tools like vegetables
• Perform a silent play in a busy public square
• Create sculptures using only trash found on the street
• Hold a concert where the audience plays the instruments
• Compose a song using only animal sounds
• Play classical music on children’s toy instruments
• Organize a backward running race
• Play a tennis match using frying pans instead of rackets
• Have a “silent” basketball game with no verbal communication

Socializing:

• Host a party where guests can only communicate through charades
• Organize a “reverse birthday” where you give gifts to others
• Have a “compliment battle” instead of an argument
• Plant a garden on a moving platform
• Grow plants upside down in public spaces
• Create a “musical garden” where plants trigger sounds when touched
• Prepare a meal using only food items of one shape
• Host a “blindfolded cooking challenge” dinner party
• Make a dish using ingredients chosen by random strangers

Personal Care:

• Style your hair using kitchen utensils
• Apply makeup with your non-dominant hand in public
• Brush your teeth with colorful toothpaste in a park
• Take your pet fish for a “walk” in a portable tank
• Dress up in matching outfits with your pet
• Host a pet “un-birthday” party in a public place

Literature:

• Read books backward in a library
• Write a story using only questions
• Host a “silent book club” in a noisy location
• Tour your city as if you’re a confused alien visitor
• Take a “staycation” by camping in your front yard
• Navigate using only a map from another century

These ideas span various niches and aim to challenge social norms in creative ways. Remember to be respectful and safe when attempting any of these projects.

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas for High School:

• Wear your school uniform backward for a day
• Eat lunch while sitting under your desk
• Use a different accent each class period
• Walk sideways in the hallways between classes
• Wear a fancy hat to gym class
• Answer questions in class by singing
• Bring a stuffed animal “buddy” to all your classes
• Use a different name each day for a week
• Write all your assignments in a different color each day
• Give a presentation while standing on one leg

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas for College Students:

• Attend lectures in pajamas and a bathrobe
• Use a typewriter instead of a laptop in class
• Speak in third person all day on campus
• Host a “ silent disco ” study group in the library
• Wear formal attire to a casual sports event
• Use a megaphone to have conversations in common areas
• Conduct a “walking lecture” where the class moves around campus
• Organize a “backwards day” where everything is done in reverse
• Hold a “no technology” day and use only pen and paper
• Create a “human statue” performance art piece in a busy area

Social Norms to Break for Sociology Project:

• Stand facing the back of the elevator
• Clap after someone finishes a regular task
• Greet strangers with a curtsy or bow
• Eat foods in unconventional ways (e.g., pizza with a spoon)
• Wear swimwear to a non-swimming location
• Speak in rhymes during all social interactions
• Walk a stuffed animal on a leash in public
• Use exaggerated gestures during normal conversations
• Wear clothes inside out in public spaces
• Bring your own chair to sit on in public transport

Social Norms to Break for Psychology Project:

• Maintain unusually long eye contact during conversations
• Respond to questions with unrelated answers
• Invade personal space by standing too close to others
• Use inappropriate levels of emotion for situations
• Ignore typical queuing behavior in lines
• Whisper responses in loud environments
• Laugh at serious comments and look serious at jokes
• Use outdated slang in modern conversations
• Offer handshakes at unusual times during interactions
• Mimic the body language of others during group discussions

Remember to always consider safety, respect, and consent when planning and carrying out these projects. It’s important to reflect on how breaking these norms affects both you and others around you.

Why Is It Important To Break Social Norms?

Breaking social norms can be important for several reasons, but it should be done thoughtfully and with awareness of possible consequences:

• Challenge Inequality : Some norms keep inequality or discrimination alive. Breaking these can lead to positive change.
• Promote Creativity : Stepping outside norms can bring new ideas and solutions.
• Personal Growth : Breaking norms can help people express their true selves.
• Raise Awareness : It can highlight important issues or injustices.
• Encourage Critical Thinking : Questioning norms makes others think about why certain behaviors are considered “normal.”
• Adapt to Change : Breaking outdated norms helps societies adjust to new situations.
• Foster Inclusion : Challenging exclusive norms can make societies more inclusive.
• Stimulate Progress : Many social advances started by breaking norms.

However, breaking norms can have downsides, like social rejection or legal trouble. It’s important to consider the potential impact on yourself and others.

Also Read: Top 99+ Science Investigatory Project Ideas For All Levels In 2024

Case Studies Of Social Norms Project

Here are some specific case studies of social norms projects undertaken by students:

1. “No Idle Zone” Campaign – High School in Vermont

A group of high school students noticed many parents left their cars idling while waiting to pick up their children, contributing to air pollution. They launched a “No Idle Zone” campaign, which included:

• Creating informative signs placed in the pickup area
• Educating fellow students and parents about the environmental impact of idling
• Organizing student volunteers to politely remind drivers to turn off their engines

Result : After three months, they observed a 78% reduction in idling time.

2. “Tray-less Tuesdays” – University in California

University students aimed to reduce food waste and water usage in their dining halls. They implemented:

• A weekly “Tray-less Tuesday” where dining hall trays were removed
• Educational posters explaining the environmental impact of food waste
• A social media campaign to promote the initiative

Result : Food waste decreased by 25% on Tuesdays, leading to the permanent removal of trays.

3. “Positive Post-it Day” – Middle School in Ontario

To combat bullying and promote positivity, students organized a day where they:

• Placed positive affirmations on post-it notes throughout the school
• Encouraged peers to write and share kind messages
• Created a “positivity wall” where students could add encouraging notes

Result : The school reported a noticeable improvement in student morale and a decrease in reported bullying incidents.

4. “Bike to School Challenge” – High School in Ohio

Students promoted biking as an eco-friendly transportation option by:

• Organizing a month-long challenge to bike to school
• Setting up a system to track miles biked and carbon emissions saved
• Arranging bike safety workshops and group rides

Result : Bike rack usage increased by 60% during the challenge and remained 30% higher afterward.

5. “Reusable Water Bottle Initiative” – Elementary School in Texas

Young students tackled plastic waste by:

• Designing and selling custom school water bottles
• Installing water bottle refill stations
• Creating a point system to reward students who consistently used reusable bottles

Result : Single-use plastic bottle sales in the cafeteria decreased by 80% within a semester.

6. “Tech-Free Lunch” – High School in New York

To promote face-to-face interaction, students implemented:

• Weekly tech-free lunches where all devices were put away
• Table games and conversation starters to encourage interaction
• A social media campaign highlighting the benefits of in-person communication

Result : 70% of students reported feeling more connected to their peers after participating.

These case studies demonstrate how students can effectively change social norms within their school communities through creative initiatives, peer education, and consistent effort. Would you like more details on any of these projects or information on how to plan similar initiatives?

Breaking Social Norms Experiment

Breaking social norms can be a fun way to learn about how people act and the rules we follow in society. Here’s an easy guide to help you set up and carry out your experiment:

Step 1: Choose a Norm to Break

Pick a social rule that is safe and won’t upset others. Here are some ideas:

• Elevator Behavior : Stand facing the back instead of the door.
• Personal Space : Sit next to someone on an empty bench or bus.
• Dining Etiquette : Eat dessert before your main meal at a restaurant.
• Queue Jumping : Politely ask to cut in line (with permission) and watch reactions.
• Dress Code : Wear pajamas to a public place where formal clothes are expected.

Step 2: Plan Your Experiment

• Location : Pick a public place where the norm usually applies.
• Timing : Choose the best time to have the most interaction.
• Observers : Have a friend or two watch and write down people’s reactions.

Step 3: Conduct the Experiment

• Be Confident : Act naturally and confidently while breaking the norm.
• Observe Reactions : Notice how people react with their words and body language.
• Remain Respectful : If someone seems uncomfortable, explain the experiment and stop if needed.

Step 4: Record Observations

• Reactions : Write down comments, facial expressions, and body language.
• Feelings : Think about how breaking the norm made you feel.
• Interaction : Did anyone come up to you or question your actions?

Step 5: Analyze and Reflect

• Discussion : Talk with your observers about what you saw.
• Reflection : Think about what the reactions show about the norm’s importance.
• Insights : Consider what this tells you about human behavior and social rules.

Step 6: Write a Report

• Introduction : Explain why you did the experiment and its background.
• Methodology : Describe what you did and where.
• Results : Share what you saw and how people reacted.
• Conclusion : Reflect on what you learned and why social norms matter.

Safety and Ethics

• Respect : Make sure the experiment is kind and respectful.
• Consent : If possible, ask for permission from the people involved.
• Safety : Avoid norms that could cause harm or distress.

Conducting a social norms experiment can be a great way to understand societal rules and human behavior while also being curious and learning. 

Final Words

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas help us learn about how people act together. These projects let us try new things and see what happens when we do something different. We can learn why we follow certain rules and how people react when those rules change. 

By doing these projects, we understand more about our community and ourselves. Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas are fun and make us think in new ways. They show us that some rules are important, while others are just habits. 

These projects can make us laugh, but they also teach us big lessons about how our world works. Anyone can enjoy and learn from Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas.

A creative and results-oriented professional with 5+ years of experience in project ideation. Skilled in brainstorming, market research, and feasibility analysis to develop innovative and impactful project concepts.

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199+ reMarkable Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas: Dare to Deviate

Explore these breaking social norms project ideas that defy societal norms and spark your imagination. Let’s push boundaries and ignite creativity together!

Hey everyone! Ever had that urge to flip the script a bit? Welcome to our realm of challenging social conventions! We thrive on experimenting with the unconventional.

Whether you’re seeking amusement or simply intrigued by the unexpected, hop aboard! Let’s delve into the unknown and discover the possibilities!

Breaking Social Norms Project Ideas

Check out breaking social norms project ideas:-

Personal Interaction

• Smile and greet strangers.
• Strike up conversations in elevators.
• Compliment strangers.
• Offer to pay for someone’s groceries.
• Share stories with people in line.
• Hold hands with a friend in public.
• Chat with strangers on public transit.
• Sit with strangers at the movies.
• Share food with strangers at restaurants.
• Play Frisbee with strangers at parks.

Clothing and Appearance

• Wear mismatched socks.
• Dress in opposite-gender clothing.
• Costume up for regular events.
• Wear all one color.
• Pajama day in public.
• Wear conflicting message clothes.
• Go barefoot in public.
• Swimsuit at odd places.
• Indoor sunglasses.
• Slogan clothing challenging norms.

Behavior in Public Spaces

• Walk backward in crowds.
• Skip instead of walking.
• Dance in public.
• Sing out loud.
• Public scavenger hunts.
• Picnics in odd spots.
• Public karaoke sessions.
• Flash mob surprises.
• Public yoga sessions.
• Public painting or drawing.

Dining and Food Habits

• Dessert before mains.
• Unusual utensil use.
• Chat with nearby diners.
• Share food with strangers.
• Order off-menu items.
• Eating with hands.
• Cook for strangers.
• Multi-cultural food tasting.
• Exaggerated table manners.
• Order unusual drinks.

Technology and Social Media

• Social media detox.
• Emojis only communication.
• No-filter selfies.
• Share unpopular opinions.
• Live mundane moments.
• Voice message texts.
• Handwritten replies.
• Social media hiatus.
• Phone-free day.
• Anonymous compliments online.

Community and Civic Engagement

• Community clean-ups.
• Diverse potlucks.
• Public taboo topic forums.
• Unexpected garden spots.
• Clothing swaps.
• Public book exchanges.
• No-audition choirs.
• Neighborhood art projects.
• Street performance festivals.
• Pay-it-forward initiatives.

Transportation and Travel

• Hitchhike locally.
• Alternative transportation.
• Unplanned travels.
• Couchsurfing.
• Talk on public transit.
• Pay for others’ fares.
• Costume public transit rides.
• Community bike parades.
• Walking tours.
• Explore neighboring towns.

Workplace and Professional Settings

• Casual business meetings.
• Brainstorming in odd places.
• Discuss taboo topics.
• Team-building outside.
• Flexible work-from-home.
• Device-free meetings.
• Rotating leadership.
• Passion projects at work.
• Public appreciation.
• Pets at work day.

Family and Relationships

• Electronics-free dinners.
• Family talent shows.
• Family book clubs.
• Gratitude letters.
• Themed movie nights.
• Volunteer traditions.
• Surprise family vacations.
• Family recipe books.
• Chore discussions.
• Emotional openness.

Education and Learning

• Outdoor classes.
• Diverse guest speakers.
• Mindfulness in class.
• Controversial topic debates.
• Peer teaching.
• Reduce waste initiatives.
• Talent shows.
• Student-teacher mentorships.
• Unexpected field trips.
• Meditation sessions.

Arts and Creativity

• Public art installations.
• Community painting events.
• Storytelling projects.
• Public poetry slams.
• Collaborative murals.
• Photography exhibitions.
• DIY crafting in public.
• Community dance-offs.
• Open auditions for theater.

Health and Wellness

• Community fitness challenges.
• Meditation groups.
• Walking or running clubs.
• Healthy cooking classes.
• Unexpected community gardens.
• Group hikes.
• Outdoor yoga sessions.
• Mental health support.
• Wellness fairs.
• Bike repair workshops.

Environmental Sustainability

• Neighborhood recycling.
• Community composting.
• Cleanup days.
• Waste reduction workshops.
• Unexpected gardens.
• Carpool initiatives.
• Environmental documentaries.
• Tree planting.
• Plastic use reduction.

Cultural and Diversity Awareness

• Cultural exchange events.
• Language exchanges.
• Diverse book clubs.
• Cultural film festivals.
• Heritage celebrations.
• Diversity talks.
• Cultural tradition preservation.
• Storytelling events.
• Diversity fairs.

Financial and Economic

• Community savings clubs.
• Financial literacy workshops.
• Garage sales or swaps.
• Tool-sharing programs.
• Repair cafes.
• Budget cooking classes.
• Skill-sharing events.
• Time banks.
• Ethical consumerism workshops.
• Community investment clubs.

Political and Civic Engagement

• Local issue forums.
• Mock elections.
• Participatory budgeting.
• Town hall meetings.
• Petition drives.
• Community watchdog groups.
• Political debates.
• Voter registration drives.
• Public space improvements.
• Community-building events.

Human Rights and Social Justice

• Bystander intervention workshops.
• Social justice rallies.
• Support groups.
• Human rights documentaries.
• Fundraisers.
• Homelessness initiatives.
• Dialogue sessions.
• LGBTQ+ education programs.
• Cultural sensitivity training.
• Art projects.

Spirituality and Religion

• Meditation circles.
• Tolerance workshops.
• Interfaith dialogues.
• Religious community service.
• Spiritual retreats.
• Spiritual discussions.
• Interfaith volunteering.
• Pilgrimages.
• Religious celebrations.
• Spiritual support groups.

Gender and Sexuality

• Gender identity workshops.
• LGBTQ+ pride events.
• Youth support groups.
• LGBTQ+ panels.
• Gender-neutral restrooms.
• LGBTQ+ film screenings.
• Drag performances.
• Consent workshops.
• LGBTQ+ inclusivity workshops.
• Love celebration events.

Education and Awareness Campaigns

• Mental health awareness.
• Anti-bullying campaigns.
• Body positivity workshops.
• Anti-racism campaigns.
• Empathy promotion.
• Media literacy workshops.
• Climate change awareness.
• Beauty standard challenges.
• Healthy relationships talks.
• Inclusivity campaigns.

These succinct ideas can easily be implemented or expanded upon to break social norms and foster positive change within communities.

What is an example of a social norm breaching experiment?

Experiment: Public Bus “Seat Offer” Test

Target Social Norm: When healthy adults avoid sitting in seats reserved for elderly, pregnant, or disabled individuals on public buses.

• Researchers find healthy volunteers.
• Volunteers get on a bus and look for seats, especially priority ones.
• Regular: Sit anywhere without breaking the norm.
• Test: Sit in priority seats, breaking the norm.

Observation

• Time until someone offers the test group a seat.
• Watch for uncomfortable looks or gestures towards the test group.
• Ask departing passengers if they noticed someone in the wrong seat.

Expected Outcome:

People should offer the test group seats faster, showing the norm of helping those in need.

Ethical Points

• Get permission from volunteers and no lying.
• Keep everyone safe and don’t bother other passengers.
• Make the test short to avoid causing problems.

Social Work Use

• Helps social workers understand how social rules help vulnerable people.
• Could lead to campaigns encouraging people to respect priority seating.

Remember: This is just one way to study social norms, and there are many others to explore in social work.

What is the experiment of breaking social norms?

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

The goal is to understand how social norms work by seeing how people react when those norms are intentionally broken.

• Choosing a Norm: Researchers pick a well-known social norm in a specific setting (like not talking loudly in a library).
• Breaching the Norm: Participants, often unknowingly part of the experiment, break the chosen norm in a controlled way (like talking loudly on a phone in a library).
• Observation and Data Collection: Researchers watch how bystanders react to the norm being broken.

This includes

• Verbal responses: Do people say something to the norm-breaker or show disapproval?
• Non-verbal cues: Do they look uncomfortable or try to avoid the situation?
• Follow-up actions: Do they try to fix things or just move away?

Expected Outcome

• Researchers expect some kind of reaction from bystanders when the norm is broken.
• It could be discomfort, attempts to correct the behavior, or simply avoiding the situation.

Ethical Considerations

• If participants are involved in breaking the norm, they must agree to it. Deception should be minimized.
• Safety and well-being of participants and bystanders are a priority.
• The norm-breaking should be brief and cause little disruption.

Applications

• These experiments help us understand how unwritten rules affect social interactions.
• They can be used in social work to shape interventions for desired behaviors or social change.
• In marketing, they show how social norms impact consumer choices, guiding marketing strategies.
• Insights from these experiments can inform public policies to encourage positive social behaviors .
• One classic experiment had a man in a suit skipping down a sidewalk. Passersby often copied him, showing the power of social influence.
• Another might involve someone standing too close in line, causing discomfort or attempts to keep space.

Overall, these experiments are valuable for understanding how social norms shape our everyday behavior.

What are examples of social norm interventions?

Check out the examples of social norm interventions:-

Descriptive Social Norms

• Campaigns: Show how many people do a positive behavior.
• Energy Feedback: Compare household energy use to neighbors’.

Injunctive Social Norms

• Training: Make it clear harassment isn’t okay.
• Intervention: Teach bystanders to step in against bullying.

Social Incentives and Rewards

• Carpool Perks: Offer benefits for carpooling.
• Recycling Recognition: Praise high recyclers.

Leveraging Technology

• Social Challenges: Spread good behavior online.
• Habit Apps: Track habits and give rewards.

What are examples of breaking social norms?

Here are some examples of breaking them:

• Talking loudly in quiet places like libraries.
• Cutting in line instead of waiting your turn.
• Standing too close to someone in line or during a chat.
• Burping or passing gas loudly in public.
• Speaking loudly on your phone in quiet places like public transport.

Breaking social norms through experiments, also called social norm breaching experiments, help us understand how people react when expected behaviors are changed. Here’s a simpler breakdown:

We break social rules on purpose to see how they work in social situations. By watching reactions, we learn about the influence of these rules on behavior. Procedure:

• Pick a common social rule, like being quiet in a library.
• Break the rule in a controlled way, like talking loudly on your phone in a library.
• Watch how people nearby react. Expected Outcome:

People nearby usually react, showing how important the social rule is to them. Applications:

These experiments help us see how unwritten rules affect our actions. They’re useful in different areas:

• Social work: Helps make positive changes.
• Marketing: Guides advertising strategies.
• Public policy: Helps make better rules. Examples:
• A guy skipping down the street made others copy him, showing how social influence works.
• Someone standing too close in line made others uncomfortable.

What are some examples of breaching experiments?

Social norm breaching experiments, where social rules are intentionally broken, come in different forms to see how people react. Here are some examples:

Everyday Social Interactions

• “Queue Jumper”: Cutting in line at a store to see if others react.
• “Loud Talker”: Talking loudly on the phone in a quiet place to gauge reactions.
• “Personal Space Invader”: Standing too close to someone to observe their response. Public Transportation:
• “Seat Saver”: Putting belongings on an empty bus seat to see if others offer it to someone in need.
• “Fare Dodger” (with permission): Pretending to forget payment to see if others help or if the driver enforces the fare. Workplace Settings:
• “Meeting Disrupter”: Being late or interrupting a work meeting to test reactions.
• “Dress Code Defier”: Dressing casually in a formal work environment to see how others react.

Important Considerations

• Ethics: Safety and consent are vital.
• Context: Behavior might be okay in one place but not another.
• Focus: Target specific social norms without causing harm.

These experiments help us understand how unwritten rules shape our behavior in different situations.

What is an example of a social norm intervention?

Imagine a college campus dealing with frequent noise complaints from neighbors living near fraternity houses on weekends. Here’s a simple social norm intervention to tackle this issue:

Intervention Strategy: Descriptive Social Norms Campaign

Goal: Change student behavior by showing the actual prevalence of responsible behavior within fraternities.

• Data Collection: Campus housing or student life departments team up with fraternities to gather noise complaint data for each house.
• Campaign Development: Create posters, social media posts, or videos featuring fraternity members to highlight the positive norm of responsible behavior.
• Messaging: Use factual messages, like “80% of fraternities prioritize quiet hours” or “[Fraternity Name] values respectful hosting – keep noise down after 10 pm!”
• Dissemination: Spread campaign materials in key campus spots, dorms, and fraternity houses, and use popular social media platforms.
• Evaluation: Track noise complaints post-campaign and survey residents and fraternity members to measure awareness and behavior changes.

By showcasing responsible fraternity behavior, the campaign aims to encourage members to adhere to quiet hours. This method avoids public embarrassment, instead using social influence to promote good behavior.

Additional Considerations

Involving fraternities in campaign development boosts buy-in and effectiveness. Combine the campaign with noise management workshops or alternative late-night events. This is just one example of how social norms can be used to address issues. The key is understanding existing norms, targeting desired changes, and using social influence positively.

In summary, experimenting with breaking social norms is a fascinating way to learn about human behavior and societal rules.

Whether it’s testing reactions in everyday situations or designing creative projects, there’s endless potential to uncover insights and spark positive change.

So, let’s keep exploring, thinking outside the box, and discovering more about how society works and how we can make it better.

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Sociology 101

Breaching ¶.

Social interaction represents one of the central building blocks of society. Despite being unscripted, these interactions have strict unwritten rules. Breaking those rules, or being deviant, is a critical way of discovering what the norms are and what is the range of reactions to norm violations. Before you begin, please review the section on “Values, Norms, and Sanctions” in the Culture chapter and take a look at page 436 in the textbook(“Encounters with Strangers”), particularly the concept of “civil inattention”.

You will conduct an exercise that violates social norms and write a short paper about the experience. This exercise may be performed alone or in a group (of your choice) of four or fewer participants. **The norm violation can not include illegal activities or those that might risk someone’s safety, health, or well-being (i.e., violating masking requirements in a pandemic). In addition, don’t complete breaches where the violation is that you make someone else sad or angry (ex. telling your friend they look ugly, etc.) because that is mean. ** In our current pandemic world, I would strongly encourage you to conduct your breach on social media, such as something that defies our new norms of online courses, such as brushing your teeth during Zoom class. If conducting your experiment as a group, each group member will perform the breach once. When not performing the breach, the other group members should observe the interaction and write an observation log documenting people’s reactions to the breach. After completing your breach, you should write a brief research report that discusses your research and what you found. You may conduct your breach as part of a group, but each person must individually write and submit a research report.

These are guidelines, but feel free to try new things and stretch your creativity for a high pass. In your submission text, please clearly state which set of requirements you are attempting to fulfill.

In order to receive a Pass or High Pass, you must complete all components of that grade category.

Violates more than one well-identified social norm in a clear way or violates the same norm in more than one way.

Chooses breaches that are creative

Includes video or photographic proof that the breach occurred. Ideally, this would be a link to a video of the breach. If you are doing this solo, a photo of the situation pre or post breach is sufficient. Attach this on Sakai or text it to Professor Caren (919-381-7638) along with your name. As part of your assignment, put “I texted the video to Professor Caren from my phone, 919-xxx-xxxx.”

Include summary paragraph as introduction.

Describe your data and methods of analysis, including describes the breaches with details about the settings they took place in (virtual/physical), the norms and your expectations.

Use detailed description to explain people’s reactions to the different breaches

Describes how you felt while doing the breaches and analyzes why that feeling occurred

Explains why your breaches are significant sociologically- what do they show/mean? Make a clear connection to more than one course concept.

Evaluate your methodology.

500 word minimum

Varies the breach or norm in such a way as to test a hypothesis

Describes your hypothesis.

Reflects on how the breach might have been different if a different person had conducted it (maybe someone of a different personality type or identity)

Analyzes the limitations of these types of experiments

Violates a well-identified social norm in a clear way

Describe people’s reactions to your breach

Describes how you felt while doing the breach

250 word minimum

Breaching Experiments

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Norm Breaching: Social Responses to Mild Deviance

Redlark — May 18, 2012

It might be interesting to explore how different "norms" are experienced by different people.  As a queer woman, here are thoughts on the three norms given above:

1. I've been socialized not to rock the boat, so I feel pressure to race over the door even if it's a nuisance.  More importantly, I am now hyperaware of gender - because I assume that a man ostentatiously holding a door for me (if I'm not on crutches or carrying a giant box) is doing it out of gendered "chivalry". This reminds me that as a butch queer woman I am unattractive to straight dudes and often encounter resentment, hostility and ostentatious "gendering" (ie, some dude stares at my breasts really obviously or calls me "honey" in a sarcastic way to remind me that I may "think I'm a man" or think I don't have to look fuckable, but I'm still subject to his gaze ).   In general, when a man holds a door for me unnecessarily (when we're both physically capable and fairly young, when I'm not carrying anything, when I am not so close to the door that to fail to hold it would mean to let is slam in my face), I get stressed and upset because I have to stop thinking of myself as "person walking around" and have to start thinking of myself as "person performing femininity and being evaluated by men". 

I would argue that this is very different from how a man, a person in a wheelchair, a trans person, etc etc etc, would experience these "norms". The norms are shared, but everyone feels differently about the behavior that the norms generate.

2. To continue, as a butch queer woman, I have been shoved and body-checked by men at random on the sidewalk - or rather "off the sidewalk" - sometimes when there is a group of men taking up the whole sidewalk who do not want to share the sidewalk and sometimes out of what I assume is pure hostility.  A man walking close to me and getting in the way makes me nervous because it can be the prelude to an unpleasant, homophobic encounter.

3. And of course, being stared at is experienced in different ways depending on who you are, even though it's always weird and uncomfortable.

D Traver Adolphus — May 18, 2012

I do that all the time. I didn't realize I was a deviant.

Leslee Bottomley Beldotti — May 18, 2012

I conducted my own experiments like this, year ago, when I lived in Chicago.  

The most interesting one involved me refusing to look away first whenever I made random eye contact with a male stranger in public.  The "norm" is that as a woman, I should always look away first. 

The reaction I got depended greatly upon age and race.  White men, especially if they were obviously younger than me, would become visibly nervous and look away first.  Older white men would attempt to maintain the gaze a bit longer, but would usually relent and look away with some apparent discomfort.  Black men, (unless they were teenagers or younger) seemed to perceive my unwillingness to look away first as some type of nonverbal challenge, or even as a sexual advance!  

In case you're curious... women, regardless of age or race, would always look away first with little or no hesitation. 

I didn't get the opportunity to test this on people of other races beyond black and caucasian.

Marie — May 18, 2012

Reminds me of Mormon humor. Polite, inoffensive, fun for all ages. Not particularly insightful. I'm learning more from the comments. 

astrocomfy — May 18, 2012

I guess I thought the norm breaking in the video was that he was holding the door for people who were REALLY far away. What kind of people are you if you slam doors in people's faces if they're right behind you (people of either sex, btw)? But this guy was just holding doors for anyone, especially those that still had quite a distance to travel. And that is what made it awkward and uncomfortable, not that he was holding the door.

Roger Braun — May 18, 2012

This feels like one of the "Well, D'uh!" posts that I don't really like. What is this experiment supposed to tell us? Of course people react irritated when you are irritating. Most of these videos seem like autistic or even psychopathic behavior, so it's easy to imagine how people would react.

The Gaze and Mild Norm Breaching | Hourclass — May 18, 2012

[...] via Sociological Images Norm Breaching. [...]

Janether — May 18, 2012

I had a similar assignment in class, and I chose to trim my toenails in the dining area in my college and while I was watching a musical performed by the college students.

Lunad — May 19, 2012

I actually got into the habit of holding the door for people that are too far away when I was in college and most of the doors were locked, where it was considered a faux pas to close a door behind you when you clearly could have seen that someone was coming.  Now I can't break the habit...

Legolewdite — May 19, 2012

Re: the stare - It's my understanding that the gaze contains power (Mulvey worked with this idea extensively...), and that those who see are considered more powerful than those merely seen.  So in this culture where power so often exists in the form of an abusive relationship, it's no surprise to me that people become so anxious when this particular norm is transgressed...

Tusconian — May 19, 2012

I think a better discussion would not be people's reactions to deviant behavior, but WHY these behaviors are deviant.  People like to chalk things like this up to "people just hate it when other people are nice" or "people overreact to the littlest things like being looked at," but that completely separates the "deviant" behavior from the context it's usually present in when these behaviors come up naturally as opposed to someone doing an experiment.  As for being stared at, people usually "stare"  (not just look or glance, but stare) for one of 3 reasons: your appearance somehow offends them, they're checking you out, or they're trying to take a peek at whatever you're doing.  ALL of those are invasive, uncomfortable feelings.  I don't want someone sitting there making me feel like an outcast for whatever I'd done to "look wrong," I don't want some creep ogling me, and I don't want anyone looking over my shoulder at my phone/computer/book/whatever.  As for "getting in my way" that bothers and annoys me because obviously, I've got someplace to be.  If I'm going to work or class or to meet someone, I don't like being impeded.  I'm sure the woman with the double stroller would be even more irritated, because she has to navigate an SUV sized barge with toddlers in it around who she perceives as some doof who isn't paying attention.  Having someone walk so close that you'd need to move off the sidewalk is just rude.  Intentional or not, it screams "I'm more important and more worthy of this sidewalk than you are!"  Holding the door is a little more hard to pin down, because it could just as easily be someone who misjudged distance.  But, how often do you go online and see self-proclaimed nice guys acting like they deserve fanfare for simply not slamming a door in a woman's face, and blaming feminism for some completely fabricated story where a women screamed at him for being polite.  Guys who hold doors for me at inappropriate times just as often as not do it in a dramatic way, with an ear to ear grin and maybe even a flourish ("after YOU, milady!").  It reads not as "look, I have enough social awareness not to be rude to you," but as "look at ME, I am not like those OTHER guys who disrespect woman and forgot chivalry!  I hold DOORS and treat women like the delicate flowers on pedestals that they are!  Where is my trophy?"  Again, it is just as often someone goofing up and misjudging distance, but when it is often enough beyond simple manners, but showing off, it's suspicious. 

Norms are sometimes completely fabricated, but just because something is a norm and sometimes norms are silly or oppressive doesn't mean norms in and of themselves are silly or oppressive.  They should be questioned, but I don't know that this guy is questioning the right norms.  He just seems like he's harassing people because it's funny to make them uncomfortable, without really considering WHY they're uncomfortable.

Barney — May 19, 2012

What we can't tell from the videos is how much people are made uncomfortable by the fact that norms are being broken, and how much these norms come about because there are other reasons that the norm-breaking behaviours make people uncomfortable.

Resources and Ideas « Q — August 3, 2016

[…] Aug3 by mstrongheart Norm Breaching: Social Responses to Mild Deviance […]

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Ideas for Breaching Experiments

A breaching experiment goes outside our ideas of social norms specifically to see how people will react to the violation of the arbitrary rules of a given situation. These experimental forays arise from the idea that people create social norms themselves without any awareness that they do so and that most individuals need to be shocked out of their ideas of normality to have any meaningful interactions.

Breaching with Figuratives

An example of "breaching" experimentally is to talk with an acquaintance and interpret his figurative usages literally, to explore the idea that we overuse figurative language to the point where interpretation becomes absurd. Your friend begins with "What's up?" and you reply "The sky." He may end the experimental conversation by saying "You trippin'!" Point out that you're standing and well-balanced, in no danger of tripping. Your friend's attempts to "normalize" the conversation throw light on how he responds to other situations that may puzzle his sense of social normality.

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When we converse, we also create imaginary barriers, our force fields of comfort we call "personal space." An interesting breach of this is the talk-line. Enlist a compatriot to converse with in a hallway. As the two of you talk, move further away from each other so that you're at least 4 feet apart but keep your eye contact and conversation going. Notice how many people actually "duck" as they go between you as if your conversation has created an actual barrier. Again, they attempt to normalize the situation and re-establish boundaries that social convention has dictated.

Restaurants and Carlinisms

Sometimes social norms breach themselves. Eating with hands in a fancy restaurant used to be forbidden, but it's become more trendy with the introduction of different cultural norms. You still can breach restaurant etiquette experimentally. George Carlin, in "Brain Droppings," recommends asking a waiter if the garnish is free, then ordering a large plate of garnish. If you were to try this experiment, the waiter's response, and perhaps your own discomfort in placing the order, would reveal the predispositions you both have, that you must "set" normality in trivial situations, following norms simply because you believe they exist.

Garfinkle's Classics

Harold Garfinkle, the ethnomethodologist who pioneered breach experimentation, established experiments that invaded both home and business norms. He sent students back to their parental homes to act as renters and into businesses to mistake customers for salesmen. These actions, Garfinkle felt, brought to light automatic responses and the reinforcement of agreed social boundaries.

• Dictionary.com: Breaching
• Cengage.com: Choose Your Words: Figurative Language
• The New York Times: Dining and Wine: Mind Your Manners: Eat with Your Hands
• Brain Droppings (1st ed. 1997); George Carlin
• Sociology Guide: Harold Garfinkle
• The Social Experiment: Soc. 326: Contemporary Theory: Harold Garfinkel - Ethnomethodology and Breaching Experiment
• Sniggle.net: Breaching Experiments
• Wired Cosmos: Sociology in Action: The Breaching Experiment
• ERIC: Making Sociology Relevant: The Assignment and Application of Breaching Experiments

Michael Stratford is a National Board-certified and Single Subject Credentialed teacher with a Master of Science in educational rehabilitation (University of Montana, 1995). He has taught English at the 6-12 level for more than 20 years. He has written extensively in literary criticism, student writing syllabi and numerous classroom educational paradigms.

SOCIOLOGY IN ACTION – THE BREACHING EXPERIMENT

The breaching experiment is a simple yet ingenious social psychology technique that explores people’s adherence to the unwritten social norms of society. The experiment was developed by sociologist Harold Garfinkel and has become a favorite tool in teaching sociology and psychology students about the strength of social norms and social conformity. Breaching experiments are planned and deliberate breaks of a commonly accepted social norm. The researcher or the student, after performing the break, observes and records the reactions of the people who witnessed the break. The reaction to the breach is the crucial point of the experiment. If a breach is done correctly and the social norm is compromised, the reaction that people exhibit is the mechanism by which they try to make sense of the odd behavior or how they combat the behavior. Lighthearted breaches can induce laughter, confusion, and curiosity. More serious breaches can actually cause anxiety and anger. In order to demonstrate the concept of the breaching experiment, Garfinkel famously instructed his sociology students to act as lodgers when they went home to their parents. Students were excessively polite to their parents, asked permission to use the restroom, and pretended to be ignorant of the comings and goings of the household. Parents were reported to be distraught and generally bewildered, some were even angry at their children’s behavior. Although breaching experiments essentially break the rules of society, they do not make a traumatic mark on the witnesses. The reactions that they exhibit are part of a repairing process. Unconsciously, the witnesses rationalize the breach in order to maintain the sense of a stable social order. As easily as the social norm is broken, it is repairable. It is this precariousness and maintainability of social reality that Garfinkel highlights. The breaching experiment also tests what behavior is accepted as a social norm. Since social norms are culturally dependent a breach done successfully in one country may not have any effect in another. Breaching experiments can be easily conducted by anyone with a healthy curiosity in the social psychological workings of society. Breaches are characteristically low budget and do not require much time and planning to carry out. Popular examples of breaching experiments have been to stand backwards in the elevator, negotiating the price of food at the grocery store, starting a conversation at a public bathroom, and ordering something not on the menu of a restaurant. The first step in conducting a breaching experiment is to identify a social norm to break. It is important to not confuse breaching experiments with crimes. Although they both work under the concept of breaking social norms, proper breaches are harmless and generally good-natured. They are commonly aimed at etiquette norms concerning how one should act in public. Breaching experiments are an appropriate and fun way for teachers and professors to get their students involved with social and psychological theories and concepts. The methodology of the breaching experiment may be simple and basic, but it teaches a rich lesson about social norms, social order, and the unwritten rules of society that people take for granted.

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