Breaking Social Norms Essay

Social Norms are rules and expectations that help guide one’s behavior in the public. Rules and expectations are selected by the members of the society on what they believe is right and wrong. What makes social norms unique is the fact that every society in the world has many overlapping and unique laws that help bring people across the world together. With rules and regulations comes punishment. Just like how in school one may get punished for not listening to the teacher or for shouting in class society also punishes an individual for not following the social norms of the society. A situation that recently occurred was during Black Friday when an individual had moved up to the front of the line rather than waiting in the line like the other twenty people. In our society we are expected to join
Even after the gentleman had allowed him to take his spot many people in the back and in the front started to make nasty comments and giving the individual dirty looks. This reaction highlights one of the consequences one would face if they break a social norm like cutting people in line. As an individual in this society I too felt the urge to ask him to move back in the line and have him wait like the other individuals however, seeing he only had few items compared to the others I didn’t feel as motivated to take such action. I do believe what he had done was wrong however; at the same time I think some of the comments that were made toward him were not acceptable. The individuals waiting in line were extremely angry to the point that they were even willing to call the police if the individual had relented to move toward the back of the line. As the individual made it up to the cashier, she politely took his stuff and checked it out while, at the same time showcasing her