Psychology Assignment

Name : Jawad Hussain

Department : BS-IT (2nd Semester)
Roll No. : 21
Reg. No. : 04161513040
Submitted to : Mam Meh Para Siddique

Date:26-jun-2016
 Experimental Research on Breaking of Norm or Norm Violation
Doing norm violation assignment was certainly a character building method to
me. To be an incredible leader, we ought to have the capacity to accomplish
something like this on certain occasion. Nobody can be successful in any field, any
job, if he/she is afraid to be different. This activity tests this ability. Also, it helps
one to understand why some people act the way they do. Often, they act in a
certain peculiar way to attract more attention to themselves, or the opposite –
they might be so obsessed to appear average that they attempt to dissipate one
deviant action by doing another one.

When I found out for the first time that part of our course requirement was to
conduct a norm violation exercise, I began to panic. For several days I had no idea
what type of activity I could do. Then, I talked to my younger sister. Her ideas
were endless: talking loudly in the movie theater, giving an overly vigorous
handshake to someone you just met; greeting your new acquaintance by kissing
them on a cheek, instead of providing a simple handshake; and of course.
Although, all of those techniques seemed to be applicable, I had a strong
hesitation doing any of them. Walking into the men’s bathroom scared me the
most.. I do respect a man’s privacy and walking into their bathroom, I believe, is
degrading to them. Therefore, I decided that whatever I do would be something
non-humiliating and non-disrespectful for other people. Something that would
not seem outrageous to me.

What an effect brought on me just thinking about this exercise! All of my actions,
during those few days, seemed to have been guided by the “deviant” thoughts.

While shopping at Hyperstar Mall Karachi with my sister, I wanted to laugh

loudly (which I did), and point at people with my finger (which I did). Riding on a
shopping cart in the parking lot (which I have not done in years), while screaming,
gave me a pretty awesome feeling also. I was truly happy to be a person without
complexes. Although those actions were somewhat unusual, they were not
making any type of a statement. Then, on our way out, it began to rain. It rained
pretty hard, and no customers attempted to come out from under the canopy. I
looked at my sister and she looked at me, and at that moment we both became
possessed with that feeling of complete freedom from socially imposed
boundaries. We read each other’s mind and ran out into the pouring rain, yelling:
“Run for your life!” We had about 7 bags of groceries, which were holding our
freedom back a bit. Almost when I reached my car, I realized that my sister was
not anywhere close. I looked back onto the parking lot and saw my little sister
standing under the rain with her torn shoe, Well, that was a picture for a
comedian to describe.

After this “run for your life” incident,I finally did norm violation when I was at
clifton karachi. The day was Saturday, when i was at society's club, it began to
sprinkle. I had to be somewhere, but having a really nice pair of loafers on, I was
indecisive. It was either testing a durability of my pretty shoes, or walk in bear
feet. Clifton is reputated place ,plus it was a lunch hour... Although I would not
mind taking my shoes off in some places (for example, my classroom), doing it in a
very populated place was different. I saw several people still sitting outside, under
tree shades having lunch and drinks; some men were walking on the sidewalk.
Being a huge shoe lover, I chose the second option. I walked, bear feet, on the
sidewalk for a good third of a mile before I reached my destination (I had to do
same thing on my way back!). Most of the people I saw were men, so that made
me feel even more uncomfortable. When I passed by, they gazed at me, like they
would gaze at a person who is dancing in a crowded bar, while everyone else
around is standing still. They kept looking at me with wonder, first at my feet,
then at my face and then back at my feet. It was almost like a stare (where were
their manners?). I tried to keep myself looking "cool" as much as possible:
shoulders back, head up, relaxed eyes...as if I was taking my usual afternoon
stroll.

While this experience was somewhat embarrassing, I felt like I was doing the very
right thing. I was protecting my property by ignoring social etiquette. And yes, it
felt very good afterwards, when I finally reached m home Although it is difficult
and unpleasant to perform something out of the ordinary, I find such an act to be
stimulating and a great confidence booster!

I guess, after all, I am capable of doing some unordinary things, on my own will, it
feels good.
Discussion:

Q. 1: Which norm breaking was most interesting?

Ans: Walking bear feet.

Q. 2: What emotions did you experience?

Ans: Bit anxious at start but felt awesome at end.

Q. 3: Was your behavior was seen by authority figure?

Ans: No authority figure witnessed my behaviour.

Q. 4: Did you experience any sanctions for your behavior?

Ans: None

Q. 5: Did you think or yourself as deviant?

Ans: Somewhat unusual.