There are societal norms that people follow, such as the unwritten rules for behavior in elevators. These guidelines include facing forward, maintaining distance from strangers, and avoiding eye contact. If someone breaks these social expectations, others may react with emotions like surprise, amusement, fear, annoyance, or other feelings. In psychology, a norm is a typical or representative value for a specific group.
A social norm is an expectation within a society regarding appropriate behaviors, thoughts, or feelings within a specific group and context. Recently, I conducted a social experiment in which I intentionally engaged in social deviance by breaking established norms and observed how my society reacted to my actions. This experiment exemplified informal deviance, as I did not face any punishment or risk thereof.
The experiment I conducted at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks involved riding a walled elevator (not one with all-glass walls) multiple times in reverse, or what is considered reverse in our society. A friend accompanied me to monitor the reactions of eight different experiment groups. I observed various reactions from people who approached me, questioning my deviance from the social norm. This outcome contradicted and disproved my hypothesis, which stated that people would ignore my unconventional behavior and carry on with their own activities.
The experiment provided valuable insights into the role and impact of social norms in society. By standing in the wrong way in the elevator, I observed how people’s reactions illustrated the significance of these norms. This small gesture within a limited space generated strong negative reactions, making some individuals feel uncomfortable and distressed. Ultimately, the results of this experiment completely contradicted my initial hypothesis.
The sight of me riding the elevator backwards made many people uncomfortable. They stared at me as if something was wrong, constantly looking over their shoulder while moving forward. Some even asked if I was okay, while others approached my friend who acted like they didn’t know me. Curiously, when I conducted experiments riding the elevator normally, nobody seemed to notice me. It’s surprising considering this happened in a city like L.A.
In the county, people may be too preoccupied to observe others or they may have been brought up to honor personal boundaries and maintain a discreet presence. Nevertheless, it seems that giving priority to conforming to societal norms holds greater significance. It could be contended that conformity is the driving force behind these outcomes. As a collective entity, society has embraced adhering to social standards and adjusted their conduct in order to assimilate and avoid attracting attention. Hence, when individuals encounter others who deviate from their own behavior or the accepted norms of their society, they readily label them as “weird” or “strange.”
Behaviorists believe that social norms have a significant impact on people’s individual behaviors. This is why my unconventional and disruptive actions caused such strong reactions. During the experiment, a group of young boys entered the elevator and noticed me standing with my face against the wall. In a playful manner, one of them suggested that they should also join me, considering that it was just my colleague disguised as a coworker and myself in the elevator. Surprisingly, almost all of them agreed, even the one who had initially been hesitant.
Following the conclusion of the experiment, I happened to encounter the group of boys once more at the mall. This provided me with an opportunity to inquire about their observations and motivations. Upon informing them that it was for a school project, they willingly agreed to engage in a conversation with me. In particular, I requested that the boy who initially proposed joining me elucidate his reasons. He revealed that they had overheard individuals conversing about someone peculiar in an elevator within the mall, which piqued their curiosity and prompted them to participate for amusement.
The hesitant boy was asked about his initial reluctance to join his friends and why he eventually decided to do so. He explained that because he was a stranger, his parents had always warned him against interacting or talking with strangers. As a result, he didn’t feel comfortable being close to me or even in an enclosed space with me. However, since we were in a public setting where people were watching, he felt it was okay to talk to me. When I asked him again while his friends were there, he honestly said that he simply wanted to be accepted by them. He knew that if he didn’t join them, they would later make fun of him for not being part of their group.
No one wants to be ridiculed in isolation, right? This 14-year-old boy experienced peer pressure to engage in an activity that made him uneasy. I found this intriguing as I was conducting an experiment on conformity within society or, more specifically, among our peers, and the absence of conformity. Despite my history of defying norms and previously carrying out experiments on social deviance, this particular study has offered me a greater comprehension of social standards and society as a whole. It seems that now I possess a more profound insight into various aspects and a enhanced understanding of human behavior.
By directly observing, I gained a deeper understanding of how social norms function and their significant impact on people’s daily lives. Additionally, I observed noticeable changes in behavior and personality when individuals interacted with those who challenged these norms, comparing two groups: the control group and the experimental group. Given that these social norms are widespread in society (such as turning around in an elevator upon entering), it is probable that conducting a similar experiment in another city or state would produce comparable outcomes.
Each environment has its own unique standards, and what is acceptable in one setting may not be relevant in another. However, conformity and adherence to social norms have been widely embraced in America, greatly impacting our society. It is unlikely that many people actually enjoy being labeled as “weird” or “different”. Nonetheless, there are occasions when observing someone who confidently follows their own unique path and embraces their individuality, despite societal criticism, is genuinely refreshing.
