Social Rules

Social Rules

S(situation)

In social life, sometimes we might encounter or be put in a embarrassed situation. We all know the feeling. It is awkward and uncomfortable. We freeze up, and look away, as if trying to find a cave and escape.

Do you ever have the experience? You might have this awkward feeling when watching TV with your parents, especially a love scene of canoodling appeared on the scene.

How can we avoid these situations? In fact, there are many mysterious rules that govern our behavior. Mysterious rules, put it simply, social rules, so to speak, because they are unspoken but understood in our daily lives. We all obey them, especially when dealing with strangers.

C(conflict)

Social rules exist in our lives everywhere. For example, on a bus station, it is usual and normal to talk about weather and seasons, but it is obviously not suitable to talk about personal affairs, like how much they earned?

If we don't know social rules, we could be considered rude and impolite, and it will effect our life and career. So we have to learn about them.

Q(question)

Even though we know there are social rules that control our behavior, but they are implicit, unspoken, and not written down anywhere. How can we find out?

Scientists are so smart that they use breach experiments to learn more about social rules. It is a common approach for psychologists and sociologists to research on social issues.

Participants break the rule on purpose, in the meantime, scientists looked at their reactions. By watching their behaviors, sociologist could identify and learn about social rules.

An important breach experiment is like this: You get on an almost empty train carriage, and sit just next to the person on board, instead of a distance away. To see the person’ behavior, does he change seat, move carriage or get off the train completely?

We now know there is a safe distance in our social lives. In extreme case like some nordic countries, which have been ranked as the most happiest countries, people there are lonely and sedate, they would stand award rather than sit next to somebody.

A(answer)

The experiments helped scientists summarized some social rules in a more clear way. If we learn more about them and control our behavior accordingly, it could help avoid many awkward situations.

There is an old saying: Once in Rome, do as Romans do. When we visit other countries, contact foreign people, it is critical to get familiar with their social rules, and try not to make mistakes due to negligence and innocence. Respect and abide by local social rules is the first thing when going about.