Applied Psychology continued...
Activism as Deviance.Social Deviance Report: Part 1Statement of the Problem.
Define the norm you will violate I will be violating the social norm of what is acceptable to wear. Describe briefly how this norm acts as a mechanism of social control. I will wear a shirt that says “You can’t replant an ecology” with twigs taped to my arms as if i were a tree. Describe what you will do to violate the norm. I will walk around as if I was wearing regular clothes and say deforestation facts as people walk by. Hypothesis. Describe the range of possible reactions others will have to the violation of this norm. I strongly believe that people will look at me funny or ignore me. Maybe some might take me into account, record me on snapchat, walk by and high five me too. What do you predict the major reaction to be? I think most people will have a confused look on their face. Wondering could possibly be wrong with me. |
Social Deviance Report: Part 2
1. Describe the Setting
a. Physical—Where did the norm violation take place?
In school, LVLHS.
b. Social—How many and what types of persons were observing?
Dozens, teachers, students, security, lunch ladies/man,
2. Describe the Incident
I will walk around the campus holding a whiteboard with the words, “you can’t replant an ecosystem.” dressed as a tree.
3.Summary and Interpretation:
a.How did you feel as you were violating the norm?
I felt very nervous. I was super scared as well.
b. Why did you feel the way you did?
I am just a nervous person overall and drawing attention to myself does not help.
4. Did people react the way you expected? Explain.
They did. I got most of the reactions I expected. I got asked questions about what deforestation was. Some were interested.
5. Did you encounter any difficulties in carrying out your assignment?
I didn’t get any pictures.
6. What, if anything, did you learn about how norms exercise social control?
They control your comfort zone. They show what is “acceptable” and what isn’t controlling what we should and should not feel comfortable doing.
a. Physical—Where did the norm violation take place?
In school, LVLHS.
b. Social—How many and what types of persons were observing?
Dozens, teachers, students, security, lunch ladies/man,
2. Describe the Incident
I will walk around the campus holding a whiteboard with the words, “you can’t replant an ecosystem.” dressed as a tree.
3.Summary and Interpretation:
a.How did you feel as you were violating the norm?
I felt very nervous. I was super scared as well.
b. Why did you feel the way you did?
I am just a nervous person overall and drawing attention to myself does not help.
4. Did people react the way you expected? Explain.
They did. I got most of the reactions I expected. I got asked questions about what deforestation was. Some were interested.
5. Did you encounter any difficulties in carrying out your assignment?
I didn’t get any pictures.
6. What, if anything, did you learn about how norms exercise social control?
They control your comfort zone. They show what is “acceptable” and what isn’t controlling what we should and should not feel comfortable doing.
Statement of the Problem.
1. Define the norm you will violate.
The norm I’m violating will be how you should dress and act in school.
2. Describe briefly how this norm acts as a mechanism of social control.
As a teenager, you shouldn’t be dressed as a tree. Also, it is pretty much a universal law, you shouldn't walk around yelling out deforestation facts. No one really even knows any. Or cares for that matter. People follow this and everyone knows the do’s and dont’s in high school, where being, even just a little, different makes you a target of people who want a good laugh.
3.Describe what you will do to violate the norm.
I will be kind of dressing like a tree, which is completely odd given the opportunity I have of not having to wear a uniform unlike the 3 other schools. Also, as I walk by I will be saying, quite loud, different deforestation facts.
The norm I’m violating will be how you should dress and act in school.
2. Describe briefly how this norm acts as a mechanism of social control.
As a teenager, you shouldn’t be dressed as a tree. Also, it is pretty much a universal law, you shouldn't walk around yelling out deforestation facts. No one really even knows any. Or cares for that matter. People follow this and everyone knows the do’s and dont’s in high school, where being, even just a little, different makes you a target of people who want a good laugh.
3.Describe what you will do to violate the norm.
I will be kind of dressing like a tree, which is completely odd given the opportunity I have of not having to wear a uniform unlike the 3 other schools. Also, as I walk by I will be saying, quite loud, different deforestation facts.
Hypothesis.
4. Describe the range of possible reactions others will have to the violation of this norm.
I think there will definitely be laughs, high fives, staring, possibly recording on snapchat as well.
5. What do you predict the major reaction to be?
The major reaction will be stares. Mostly confused looks as well. I guess people will just wonder what exactly I’m doing and what for.
I think there will definitely be laughs, high fives, staring, possibly recording on snapchat as well.
5. What do you predict the major reaction to be?
The major reaction will be stares. Mostly confused looks as well. I guess people will just wonder what exactly I’m doing and what for.
Potential Setting.
6. Where do you plan on the norm violation taking place? Be specific as possible.
The hallways of the 1st and 2nd floor, cafeteria, classrooms, the cone. All campuswide (except lunch).
7. How many and what type of people do you expect to encounter? Mostly people that find it funny, and mean people also. I think some might just laugh cause it is weird. While others might have comments.
The hallways of the 1st and 2nd floor, cafeteria, classrooms, the cone. All campuswide (except lunch).
7. How many and what type of people do you expect to encounter? Mostly people that find it funny, and mean people also. I think some might just laugh cause it is weird. While others might have comments.
Reflection.
8. Describe your own and others’ reactions before, during, and after each violation.
Mine (before):
I was very nervous. I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself than necessary. I’m already a little bit awkward and very very shy. Therefore, doing this was very nerve racking for me. I just wanted to get it done. I was filling up in anxiety to the point I wanted to almost cry.
During:
I absolutely hate when people look at me for more than a couple seconds, i felt how my hands began to sweat and I got warm from the inside out. I looked down but kept walking seeing a couple flashes and hearing “what are you” or “what is she doing?”, “what’s that for?” and “That’s why I don’t go to sojo.”
After:
I was extremely relieved, but found out no one had taken photos of me of the people looking at me.
9. How did the reactions compare to what you had anticipated? There were comments and pictures and laughs. But overall it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. I wouldn’t do it again because it caused me some serious anxiety but I survived and I am happy I got it over with.
10. Note any differences between the groups’ reactions and discuss possible reasons for them.
Underclassmen only stared and read the white board, while upperclassmen were the ones who made comments. I think this is due to the fact that freshman and sophomore year you try your best, at least I know I did, to stay under the radar.
11. Why does the norm you choose to violate exist? What would happen if it didn’t exist? Would the results be good or bad?
I think it exists because people are judgemental. If it wasn’t for that more people would feel free to be more like themselves. There is actually a sophomore who dresses like a cat every now and then. People always ask if there is something wrong with her. I actually think she’s pretty brave to not listen to the comments and continue doing what she feels comfortable with. The results would be freedom and after a while it’d be acceptance.
12. Did your experience stimulate any other questions? How would you test those question?It made me question why exactly I was so nervous. I think I should try it again to overcome this sort of fear of mine.
Mine (before):
I was very nervous. I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself than necessary. I’m already a little bit awkward and very very shy. Therefore, doing this was very nerve racking for me. I just wanted to get it done. I was filling up in anxiety to the point I wanted to almost cry.
During:
I absolutely hate when people look at me for more than a couple seconds, i felt how my hands began to sweat and I got warm from the inside out. I looked down but kept walking seeing a couple flashes and hearing “what are you” or “what is she doing?”, “what’s that for?” and “That’s why I don’t go to sojo.”
After:
I was extremely relieved, but found out no one had taken photos of me of the people looking at me.
9. How did the reactions compare to what you had anticipated? There were comments and pictures and laughs. But overall it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. I wouldn’t do it again because it caused me some serious anxiety but I survived and I am happy I got it over with.
10. Note any differences between the groups’ reactions and discuss possible reasons for them.
Underclassmen only stared and read the white board, while upperclassmen were the ones who made comments. I think this is due to the fact that freshman and sophomore year you try your best, at least I know I did, to stay under the radar.
11. Why does the norm you choose to violate exist? What would happen if it didn’t exist? Would the results be good or bad?
I think it exists because people are judgemental. If it wasn’t for that more people would feel free to be more like themselves. There is actually a sophomore who dresses like a cat every now and then. People always ask if there is something wrong with her. I actually think she’s pretty brave to not listen to the comments and continue doing what she feels comfortable with. The results would be freedom and after a while it’d be acceptance.
12. Did your experience stimulate any other questions? How would you test those question?It made me question why exactly I was so nervous. I think I should try it again to overcome this sort of fear of mine.
Learning Extensions.
13. Look up the “spotlight effect” (not the kind that relates to photography or photoshop). Define it (in your own words) and describe how it relates to your experience.
It is like the girl in school who thinks she owns the building. Assuming she is more important than she actually is. Thinking everyone is always paying attention to what they do when in reality that isn’t the case.
I think the fact that I knew I looked weird, I assumed everyone would just look at me, not that I was important but the fact that I knew I stood out made me think that everyone would pay attention to me.
14. What did this exercise teach you about the social justice activism as a method for changing the world?
Anything can spark a change. I explained to a couple of people what deforestation was. Showing that not everyone even knows what it is, they won’t know the consequences of it. After I explained, they did seem a bit concerned, hopefully enough to try to change this issue.
15. Some people regularly choose to break social norms and act as social justice activists. Name 2-3 famous people who you consider to be social justice activists. Why do you think some people choose to be social justice activists?
Definitely Bernie Sanders and as cliché as this sounds Martin Luther King Jr.. I think when there is an issue that affects you and or those who matter the most to you, you will try to stop it, at any cost. As the second oldest sibling I was taught to always protect my siblings regardless of what I had to protect them from. I think just like myself, social justice activists do everything they can and go out of their way to make sure their loved ones will live in a better place.
It is like the girl in school who thinks she owns the building. Assuming she is more important than she actually is. Thinking everyone is always paying attention to what they do when in reality that isn’t the case.
I think the fact that I knew I looked weird, I assumed everyone would just look at me, not that I was important but the fact that I knew I stood out made me think that everyone would pay attention to me.
14. What did this exercise teach you about the social justice activism as a method for changing the world?
Anything can spark a change. I explained to a couple of people what deforestation was. Showing that not everyone even knows what it is, they won’t know the consequences of it. After I explained, they did seem a bit concerned, hopefully enough to try to change this issue.
15. Some people regularly choose to break social norms and act as social justice activists. Name 2-3 famous people who you consider to be social justice activists. Why do you think some people choose to be social justice activists?
Definitely Bernie Sanders and as cliché as this sounds Martin Luther King Jr.. I think when there is an issue that affects you and or those who matter the most to you, you will try to stop it, at any cost. As the second oldest sibling I was taught to always protect my siblings regardless of what I had to protect them from. I think just like myself, social justice activists do everything they can and go out of their way to make sure their loved ones will live in a better place.