opic: Deviance (CH 6)

In order to help you better understand what it means to be “deviant” and to help you fully comprehend how it feels when others judge you as “deviant,” you are being asked to break a norm. You can break a personal norm, a family norm, or a societal norm; you get to choose. You can also conduct this experiment with a partner (family member, friend, significant other) if you are too shy to be the deviant one. In this case you would be the observer who takes notes while your partner is the “deviant” one. If you are comfortable being “deviant” you can still have a partner who observes the reactions of others while you conduct your experiement. Directions are as follows:

1) Complete a 1 to 2 page paper- typed, double spaced, and in essay format. You can go over the page limit if needed; there will be no deduction of points for this. I have provided a Sample Writing Assignment so you can see the expected format for this assignment. The link is included below.

2.) Define deviance.

3.) Break a norm.

Choose the norm you are going to break. Explain why you chose this particular norm. Be sure to identify what the norm is before you explain how you will be deviant.
Choose the place/location where you will break this norm. Discuss this in your paper.
If you can, do this exercise with another person so that one of you can be deviant while the other person observes people’s reactions.
How did people respond/react to this violation of a norm? Why do you think they reacted in this way? NOTE: These are your analysis questions; answer these questions thoroughly.
How To Submit Your Assignment:

When you are ready to turn in your assignment, click on the “Submit Assignment” button at the top of the page. You can either type your paper directly into the text box or you can type your paper into, for example a Word Document, and then copy and paste your paper into the text box. Your last option for submitting an assignment is to upload the file. Be sure to use one of the approved files as discussed in your syllabus which includes doc, docx or pdf. Not using an approved file, one that won’t open in CANVAS, will result in a zero (0) grade on the assignment.

1) Did you provide a definition for deviance?

2) Did you explain what norm you chose to break by first explaining what the norm is, and then, explaining what you will be doing that is considered deviant? Did you discuss why you chose to break this particular norm and share where the experiment took place?

3) Did you discuss in detail how people reacted to your violation of the norm?

4) Did you provide a critical analysis of why you think people reacted the way they did?