Thursday, September 6, 2012
Group Norms Question 1
Are there group norms at SJSU? I think there is one in every class. I think there is one in every study group formed. I think there is one in the student lounge. For example, in class, the norm that we start off with is asking the class if we watched the Giants game the previous night. We have asked this every single time we start class. It has become accustomed to do this. By week 9, if the instructor doesn’t ask us, it would be a violation of that norm. In the student lounge, I always meet up with 2 of my friends at 12:15 on the dot. We then order Jamba Juice and discuss how are week is going or what are plans are for the weekend.
With my group of friends that I hang out with, we usually go to a bar every Thursday, just to relax and have some bonding time. We usually talk about sports or upcoming events. It is pretty rare that we talk about our actual personal lives. It is also rare when we don’t order an alcoholic beverage. When any of us break that norm or ritual that we have, we know something is wrong with that person at that particular moment. We usually call them out on it and ask to spill the beans. The focus of our group is to mainly have fun and enjoy each others company.
How did I identify these norms? Well, in the case of my class talking about the Giants game, one of my classmates decided to talk about a different sport in class other than baseball. Our instructor and classmates didn’t really pay him no attention as our focus went back to baseball. You could definitely tell that a norm was broken. Around my group of friends, we are usually well-mannered people. A friend tried to bring in another friend to join our circle. He was quite the opposite. He cursed and caused a lot of trouble in the bars that we went to. He did not fit our norms and brought our cohesion down. He definitely violated a peripheral norm.
How I adapted to these norms was quite simple with my friends. We all shared the same values as people and how we view treating people. So, being around them, the group chemistry and cohesion was very solid. With my class, I had to catch up on baseball and know the scores from the previous night so I could add my input.
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Hi!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I believe there are group norms everywhere. Group norms develop in any group that communicates, and as they say, there is communication in everything. Doing nothing even communicates and ultimately creates norms. I see how you know when something is out of the norm within a group, such as not ordering an alcoholic beverage. It is a clear sign that something is wrong and the norm is being broken. I like how you explained the identification of norms and what would happen if it were broken. Such as the student changing the subject from baseball to a different sport, and how he was not really paid any attention. Group chemistry and cohesion are great ways to adapt to norms. So is being silent observation, although sometimes being silent breaks a norm, so you’ve got to be quick to adapt!
haha sounds like a thirsty thursday kind of night! I think you and i can both agree with our group norms that we both just want to have fun and kickback! and definitely no to that guy that your friend brought to a bar. Belligerent people like definitely is not part of my average group norm! I think that when you adapt to your friends norms, its the common interest that brings the group together. the norm is, is that we can just enjoy ourselves. especially at the age we are currently at. The people you hangout with definitely adapt to your norms quicker than you think.
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