Norm Violating Activity1

For this activity, you will pair up with someone to violate a social norm (that is, act in a way that
would be appropriate under some situations, but do it in a situation in which it would not be
considered appropriate). Think about a folkway that interests you and that you would be willing
to break (do NOT break any laws or mores)! Consider our class discussions and consult the
Ritzer (Culture p53-59) reading for clarification. You will type up your experience and turn in a
printed copy on the day it is due. This assignment is worth 20 points, as a homework/attendance
points assignment.
Norm Violation Instructions
1. With your partner, go to the scene of the planned violation and observe the normal
behavior. Do nothing to disrupt normal processes. Your goal is to first understand the
normal behavior so you can clearly identify behaviors occurring in response to your
violation.
2. Partner 1 will violate a social norm enough times to gather reactions from 5-10
onlookers. Once complete, record how you felt doing it, how many people could see you,
and what reactions you observed as the norm violator.
3. Partner 2 remains inconspicuous (pretend not to know the norm violator) and observes
the pattern of others as Partner 1 breaks the social norm. Record notes on the violation
itself and the responses of everyone in the vicinity. Be inconspicuous with your note-
taking, which might mean that you need to record notes or more detailed notes after the
actual incident. Consider if taking notes by hand, laptop, or phone would look more
covert in your setting.
Notes should include the social characteristics of the observers (gender,
age, race, etc.) and anything else relevant (alone, with friends, very close
to the norm violation, etc.).
4. After enough data have been collected, switch positions so that Partner 2 is the norm
violator. OR, Partner 2 may want to restart the activity in a different setting or break a
different norm.
If you are both doing the same norm violation in the same setting, consider
doing it at different times of the day so you can record different onlookers.
You must both participate in the norm violation from both perspectives--as
a violator and as an observer.
5. The partner observing gives their observations to the norm violator so that you each have
notes on your own feelings about the experience, what you noticed from onlookers, plus
your partner’s observations about onlookers.
6. Type up a description of your norm violating activity including the following
components:

1
Adapted from ASA TRAILS #12533 “Norm Violation Group Video Presentation”
 a. Explain what folkway you chose to violate.
b. Explain how you carried out the violation.
c. Describe the reactions to your norm violation.
i. Did you experience any sanctions?
ii. Do you notice any social patterns in people’s reactions? (E.g.: Did
men behave differently than women? Did age affect responses? Did
people respond differently if they were alone or in a group?)
d. Explain how you felt violating the social norm. (E.g.: Was it difficult to
break, why or why not? How does this relate to the power of social norms?)
e. Make sure your partner’s name on their observational notes and attach them
to your printed response. Their notes can be handwritten or typed.
Restrictions
• You may NOT plan anything that involves direct interaction with a stranger. That is, don’t get
strangers involved in what you’re doing (other than to observe you). Stopping in the middle of a
busy doorway or cutting people in line is a passive aggressive move that involves others. You
may be confronted in a hostile manner, so this type of activity is discouraged.
NOTE: This is NOT about pulling pranks on other people—it’s about you doing
something counter-normative (e.g., do not stop strangers on the street to ask directions to
Egypt).
• Do NOT do anything that might cause other people harm, discomfort, or embarrassment (e.g.,
do not swear in front of young children).
• Do NOT do anything unsafe, illegal, or expressly prohibited (e.g., do not walk across the
campus nude).
• Do NOT do anything disruptive (e.g., do not play guitar during your history class).
Examples of acceptable norm violations
• Ride a crowded elevator facing the wrong way (better still, face the entire crowd)
• In an uncrowded bus or reading room, sit directly next to another patron
• Go to class dressed in evening wear, beach wear, sleep wear, or a Halloween costume
• Bring an unexpected object with you to the dining hall (e.g., a brick, an old rotary telephone, a
large potted plant, several rolls of toilet paper, jumper cables, a lawn chair)
• Walk across campus backwards, or with your hands above your head, or hopping on one foot
• Sing, dance, or play solitaire in a public restroom
• Browse a store wearing handcuffs, a bridal gown, a surgical mask, or swim goggles
Other notes
❏ If at any point your norm violation appears to be upsetting a bystander or if someone asks
you about your behavior, you are welcome to explain to the people affected that your
 behavior is for a class assignment.
❏ Feel free to be creative and have fun with this, but adhere to the restrictions above.
❏ You may include a third person from class if it facilitates the norm violation (e.g., feeding
your friend at a restaurant, sitting in your friend’s lap on the bus).
❏ If you try to do your chosen norm violation but can’t bring yourself to do it, try choosing
something else less embarrassing.
❏ Don’t make up your entry—the actual experience is important.
❏ If you find that completing this activity would cause you undue distress, please contact
me about it. Most people should be able to think of something they can handle doing, and
I want you to at least try. But I don’t want you to put yourself through a painful ordeal.