My Norm Experiment

For my norm experiment, I chewed with my mouth opened as I sat for dinner with my friends. We went to got eat at a Steakhouse, which I forgot the name of, for my friend’s twentieth birthday. I was a little hesitant at first to perform the task because personally if someone else around me did it, I would be a little disgusted. I however, decided to do it because I couldn’t think of another ‘norm’ experiment to perform. Once I ordered the food and the server came to hand it to us, I thought of a way to perform the experiment to compare the reactions of performing the ‘norm’ normally. I took a first bite and chewed with my mouth closed in the beginning. No one seemed to find it weird, everything was normal and everyone seemed fine. After what
Chewing loudly or showing your food to your peers as you are eating is disrespectful. Additionally, doing so in front of strangers probably evokes impoliteness. At a young age, one is taught by their parents or parental figure to eat at the dinner table with their mouths closed. I think that the younger the person, the easier it is to get away with it, but once you reach a certain age, you are required to know not to chew loudly. Chewing correctly might show that one is disciplined and educated versus someone who doesn’t. Although I smacked my food around people I knew, it felt just as embarrassing as doing it in front of someone who I didn’t know.
Society might have socialized this norm in order for people to be able to enjoy their food without the distraction of a smacking noise by the others around them. The fact that this norm is taught a young age not to do, says that this is an important mannerism ins American culture. I couldn’t think of why this is a norm in our culture other than it showing etiquette and formality. However, I know that in Chinese culture, one who smacks their food indicates that he or she is savoring the food and find it enjoyable. This shows that this norm may be different across the