1. Breaking a Norm Aubrey Lopez

2. What is a Norm? • Norms are the agreed-upon expectations and rules by which a culture guides the behavior of its members in any given situation. • There are 4 types of norms. Folkway Mores Taboo Laws

3. What type of Norm did I break? • In this experiment, I broke a folkway. • Folkways, sometimes known as “conventions” or “customs,” are standards of behavior that are socially approved but not morally significant.

4. What was done to break this norm? • During this experiment, as I walked through the halls each passing period, I would obnoxiously compliment every person with a white shirt by saying, “WHOA NICE WHITE SHIRT!”

5. How I felt as I broke the norm • I felt super obnoxious and annoying as I broke the norm in complimenting complete strangers in the hallway.

6. Why I felt this way • Speaking to random people, made me feel like an alien to others when they’d look at me surprised and awkwardly say thanks.

7. People’s reactions • People did act how I expected them to act, awkward and shy toward the fact that I was so impressed with the white shirt they were wearing.

8. What I learned about breaking the norm • The norm for walking in the hallways would be to keep to yourself and your friends, however I didn’t do that. • In todays society, to get out of your way to be nice isn’t really accepted, it makes you weird and obnoxious.