Cutting in Line as an Example of Norm Violation

Paper Summary:

Norms help to define a society by setting boundaries and enhancing group identity and coherence. The author of this paper sets out to discover how differing segments of the population react when a commonly excepted norm is ignored - standing in line. The author states that by cutting in line, the individual is proclaiming that he or she is not bound by convention; that he or she is more important than all those other individuals who must wait their turn. The author describes how, in the course of his researc,h he choose three different social situations involving queues and how, in each situation, he blatantly cut in line. The writer then describes the reaction of others to his actions before drawing his final conclusions.

From the Paper:

"This attempt was not very successful. The researcher cut in front of a female student in her late teens. She was appeared to be alone, and was carrying a laptop. She was looking down at the floor and did not seem like she was paying attention to anyone. She said nothing as the researcher stepped in front of her, though he though he saw her grimace slightly and then return to looking at the floor. Nevertheless, a group of seven or eight students behind her quickly noticed the researcher's presence. One of them turned loudly to his friends and cried, "Did you just see that? This guy cut in front." The researcher pretended not to notice and tried to continue looking blankly ahead. Almost immediately, he felt a strong tap on his shoulder. A tall man in a denim jacket was sticking his reddened face in his. Two of his friends moved forward to back him up. One "What the (expletive) do you think you're doing?" A girl who had remained in the original group of seven or eight giggled before directing her other friends attentions to what was going on. "Look at this," she smiled. The man with the red face shoved the researcher in the back. The three men stepped closer to the researcher.... And the researcher left the line without saying a word."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Schneider, I. E. (2000). Revisiting and Revising Recreation Conflict Research. Journal of Leisure Research, 32(1), 129.

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