Dr. Herman E. Stark
English 1001-014
October 14, 2015
Midterm Paper Outline: Standard of Social Norm
In my midterm paper, I will be discussing what social norm is and how the standard of norm change. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of “normal” is conforming to the standard or the common type. This standard or the common type changes with the change in societal standards. Such societal standards have been changing throughout the history and still is changing constantly. Humans label themselves with the words “normal” and “abnormal” of their mental states and behaviors. Humans create a society, a group of people with common background, interaction, and territory. In order to fit into the category of “normal”, people behave in certain ways in varying situations to conform the the expectations. Such expectations are defined as a social norm. Social Norms are unwritten rules about …show more content…
Culture is the behaviors, beliefs, and values that a group of people conform. We learn our culture from the moment we’re born, along with the general societal norms. We are taught to behave according to our gender and we are taught to go to school and go to work. However, there are many social norms that are very specific to one culture. In some Asian cultures, receiving or pouring an alcohol or tea with one hand to an elder or higher status is considered very rude. One has to hold the glass or bottle on one hand and place their other hand under their upper arm as if one is hold their sleeves from falling. On the other hand, that is not the case at all in other cultures. Such different social norm in cultures often creates confusion and conflict. The most accurate example is United States, the melting pot. United States is one of the most culturally diversified country in the world because of all the assimilation of immigrants. However, such diversity creates conflicts between various social norms of racial and equality