Breaking Social Norms Essay

How would you react if you had a stranger invade your personal space by sitting close to you on a park bench or standing in close proximity during a conversation? The typical person would find it abnormal or feel uncomfortable for someone they do not know to do invade their personal space. This is because we are taught a set of informal rules, called social norms. Social norms play an important part of society because they define appropriate behavior based on the values that a culture holds. If someone does not follow one of those rules, they are perceived as deviant. Deviance is the violation of social norms, and the reactions to deviant behavior can vary depending on the cultural norms of a society.
Most people do not like to break the rules that society creates, because deviant behavior is often looked down upon in societies. From a very young age, we are socialized to subconsciously follow these informal rules. Without these rules, a society would not function properly. Individuals can choose to either conform or violate social norms. Many people prefer to act in such ways that cause little attention to themselves, and may feel out of the ordinary if they do not follow normal societal behaviors.
Emile Durkheim, French sociologist, believed there was nothing abnormal about deviance. He claims that there are four essential functions of deviance: it affirms cultural values and norms, it clarifies moral boundaries, it brings people together, and it encourages social change. By breaking the social norm of personal space, we can offer an alternative to the status quo, and encourage social change. If more people were open to sharing their space with individuals in society, then it could be possible for interpersonal relations and communications to improve between those members of