Social Norms

Morgan Stone

A social norm is best described as a rule or behavior that is considered acceptable in

normal society. I, personally, find social norms amazing because each country has their own that

is relational to them. For example, in the Republic of Cyprus, when you’re leaving an event, you

must say goodbye to each individual person before leaving. That, to me, is crazy! That’s another

thing that astounds me; each place could have similar or different social norms in comparison to

somewhere else. However, like the saying goes, rules are made to be broken, and those rules

include social norms. Breaking social norms can be easy and it can be hard, but either way,

society will still outcast you in some sort of way. Listed below are some video clips that show

one or more social norms being broken, and the effect they have on the people around them.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K08_gS2shfk) Mulan breaks a multitude of social

norms. First, she dresses as a man, second, she drafts herself into the army, and third, she leaves

without telling anyone (most people going into the military say goodbye to their loved ones). I,

personally, have yet to dress like a man and draft myself into the army, and I always say goodbye

to my parents when I go anywhere. The people in the scene, her family, were obviously

distraught and heartbroken. I was shocked that Mulan had the willpower to completely change

herself to spare her father the pain of going back to the military. The reactions were in par to the

people in the scene (her family). I would be more surprised if her family had acted any other

way. I chose this clip because I love that it shows how far someone is willing to go to protect or

defend their family

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYq-l8ytdto) The Princess and the Frog breaks a lot

of Disney social norms. Firstly, it casts an African American woman as the lead, and secondly, it
shows that the prince is not a stereotypical prince but more so a laid back, music-playing person.

I have not changed my skin color, and I am not royalty, so personally I cannot relate to breaking

of this social norm. The people in the scene didn’t seem bothered at all that Tiana is an African

American woman; the man on the bus even goes to offer her a flower. As for the prince

appearing more normal, people still fawned over him because he’s a prince, but the line of men

playing music were more than happy to let him play with them. I was a bit surprised to see that

Tiana was African American, as Disney hadn’t done that, but I loved that she was. I was also a

bit perplexed that the prince just wanted to play music and appear to be normal. I don’t think that

the crowd’s reaction would have changed if there were different people there, unless there was a

racist person in the scene. I choose this clip because I love that Tiana is hardworking, and also

because I love the line in the opening song, “Rich people, poor people, all got dreams. . .”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRZba7AoCbA) Tangled breaks social norms in

all kinds of ways, but the most noticeable one is when Flynn Rider takes her to the Snuggly

Duckling and all of the “bad guys” proceed to sing about their dreams. I have been viewed at

times as a rougher person, depending on the time you catch me, and then when that person get to

know me, they know I’m not rough and tough hardly at all. The people in the scene simply join

in because they fall into that category of “bad guys” with a secret dream. I think that had it been

one tough guy in the room, he wouldn't have broke out into song, but because he was surrounded

by them, and they all knew each other’s secret dreams, then it was okay. My reaction was to first

laugh because rough ‘n tough guys aren’t supposed to sing about their dreams, then I was happy

that that specific social norm could be broken. I chose this clip because it reminds me of my

family. All the men on my dad’s side of the family ride motorcycles, and I see the stares they get,

but I know that they’re not bad people.

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm_8z3JQvtU) The Simpsons have broken

numerous social norms, but in this video, the one broken is not choking your child. I don’t have a

child to choke, nor have I been choked by my parent, nor will I ever choke a child. The reactions

were shockingly calm. I guess the Simpsons were used to this behavior. Personally, I’m not a fan

of the show, and I was appalled by what I saw. Had the audience been anyone else I’m sure the

reactions would have been different. I chose this clip because I thought it explicitly showed what

breaking a social norm looked like.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfDyiCY57eo) Brave broke many social norms in

this scene. She disrespected her parents in public, and she is a fierce lead character. I

unfortunately, have disrespected my parents in public, and I am a fierce lead character of my

own life, so I suppose I have broken these social norms. The people were astounded, and her

mother was very angry. I don’t think those reactions would have changed if another group of

people was there. Personally, I was happy that she stood up for herself and what she wanted,

even if she did disrespect her mother. I chose this clip because I relate to her. I’ve had my mother

try to set the course of my life even if it’s not what I wanted, and what she was trying to do

wouldn’t have made me happy. I understand that parents want to do things for us that benefit us,

but some of the things that my mother has wanted me to do would have pushed me over the edge

(like not allowing me two study halls when I have all AP and DE classes).
Social Norm Project (70 points) Name: Morgan Stone

Part I: List of daily norms you follow

Select one day of your life and record at least 25 norms that you followed that day. Fill in the chart for
part I listing these norms. Try to limit your list mostly to things you DO (I look people in the eye when they
talk to me), rather than things you don’t do (I don’t look at people’s knees when they talk to me). (25
points, one point per norm)

1. Shower

2. Brush my teeth

3. Brush my hair

4. Put on clothes for school

5. Put on deodorant

6. Greet my parents in some way in the morning

7. Go to school

8. Talk to people

9. Turn in/show my homework

10. Say good morning to the greater at the front of the school

11. Say please when I want something

12. Say thank you when I receive something

13. Say you’re welcome when I give something

14. Ask at least one question a day

15. Respond when people talk to me/ask me a question

16. Respect people’s personal space

17. Wear shoes in public

18. Maintain a respectable level of loudness when speaking

19. Stop at red lights when driving

 20. Show up to work on time

21. Maintain the speed limit

22. Compliment someone back when they compliment me

23. Say hello when answering the phone

24. Come to class with all the materials needed

25. Chew with my mouth closed

Part II: Anticipated Consequences of Breaking Norms

Choose five norms from your list in Part I and describe the anticipated consequences of breaking these
norms. 1-3 of the five you choose should be the norm you actually violate. (10 points, two points per
norm)

1. Norm: maintain the speed limit Anticipated Consequences: speeding tickets or

license suspension

2. Norm: turn in/show homework Anticipated Consequences: grade suffering

and parental-provoked consequences

3. Norm: respect people’s personal space Anticipated Consequences: people

would actively avoid me

4. Norm: show up to work on time Anticipated Consequences: lose my job

5. Norm: stop at red lights when driving Anticipated Consequences: ticket or jail