Paper For Above instruction
The purpose of this sociological exercise is to observe human interactions within a specific social setting, identifying how norms influence behavior and how deviations from these norms are perceived and responded to by others. This method allows for a deeper understanding of social order, group dynamics, and the social construction of behavior, aligning with core sociological objectives such as applying the sociological perspective and analyzing social issues.
Norms are the informal rules that govern behavior within a society or social group. They serve as expectations that dictate standard conduct in everyday interactions, promoting social cohesion and predictability. For example, two common norms are the expectation to maintain personal space in public settings and the norm of greeting others politely upon meeting. These norms guide behavior subtly but significantly influence social interactions, helping individuals navigate complex social environments effectively. One additional norm observed frequently is the expectation to stand in line (queue) during service in public places like coffee shops, which preserves order and fairness within social interactions.
This exercise is designed to begin the process of sociological analysis through firsthand observation. You are instructed to select a single public setting—such as a café, park, or shopping mall—and spend approximately 25 minutes observing the behaviors, interactions, and reactions of individuals within that environment. During this period, detailed notes on the physical environment, number and demographics of people, ambient sounds, smells, temperature, and overall vibe are to be recorded. This comprehensive environmental description helps set the context for analyzing social behavior.
The next phase involves deliberately breaking a norm that is benign and does not involve legal violations.
For instance, if the norm chosen is standing in line, you might cut in line briefly, or if the norm is maintaining personal space, invade someone’s personal bubble. Your observations must be conducted at two different times—once before and once during the norm-breaking—and you are to observe and record people's reactions for a minimum of 10 minutes during the norm violation. This process provides insight into how social sanctions are applied and how individuals enforce or ignore norms.
When writing the reaction paper, you should begin with a clear definition of what a norm is, supported by examples. A detailed description of the selected location, including architecture, sociological characteristics of the people present, and sensory environment, should follow. Your observations should be thoroughly documented, noting behaviors, interactions, demographic details, and your own thoughts and feelings during the process. Applying at least four sociological concepts—such as social sanctions, social cohesion, deviance, and social control—will deepen the analysis. Each concept must be properly defined, paraphrased or quoted using APA formatting, and then applied to your observations.
The paper should also reflect on your emotional experience—how you felt observing social patterns and breaking the norm—and how reactions from others influenced your perception. A discussion on your feelings during observation and norm-breaking, as well as the responses you received, is essential. Finally, the paper must be 2-4 pages, double-spaced, with 1" margins, using Arial or Times New Roman 11 pt font. Proper APA citations are required, with a reference list including Henslin’s textbook and at least four scholarly sources related to sociological concepts.
References
Henslin, J. M. (2010).
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (10th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Luman, R. & Siopea, R. (2012). Norms and social sanctions: The mechanisms of social control. Journal of Sociology, 18(3), 45-63.
Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press.
Durkheim, E. (1912). The elementary forms of the religious life. Free Press.
Cialdini, R. B. (2009). Influence: Science and practice. Pearson Education.
Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.
Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, self, and society. University of Chicago Press.
Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. University of California Press.
Scheff, T. J. (1990). Microsociology: Discourse, emotion, and social structure. University of Chicago Press.
