5 Unique Ideas for Social Norm Violation Experiments. Hilarious!

If you're looking for the ultimate social norm violation idea, you're in luck! These social norm violations are fun to do, fun to share, and guaranteed to impress your teacher, instructor, or professor.

If you're enrolled in a general Sociology class, chances are that your teacher or professor will eventually give you one of the funnest assignments of your educational career - violate a social norm. Essentially, this assignment gives you permision to cut loose, do something crazy, be a doofus, and get a good grade for doing so!

A social norm violation, in a nutshell, involves the engagement of behavior between at least two individuals which is not, under normal conditions, socially acceptable. In some cases, these behaviors can be rude, inconsiderate, or simply "bad manners." Examples of typical social norm violations include burping out loud in public, wearing strange clothes, standing too close to another individual, and digging one's teeth, to name a few.

You might be thinking to yourself, "Hey, I need an awesome, out-of-this-world idea for my social norm violation assignment. What can I do?" My friend, your possibilities are virtually endless, limited only by the imagination. But just in case you'd like a few knock-out social norm violation ideas, especially ones that somebody else is highly unlikely to copy, read on!

Note: For best results, conduct these social norm experiments in public, around strangers. In cases where a specific individual must be targeted, make sure that they are strangers as well. Enlist the help of a friend, who can video your social norm violation as it transpires. And above all else, try not to laugh!

1) Social Norm Violation Idea #1: Video and Taste-Testing at a restaurant

Using any video capturing device, ask a friend (aka partner in crime) to film you as you sample foods. This idea is especially fruitful if conducted at a buffet-style restaurant. Arm yourself with a handful of spoons. Approach the entree of your choice, dip a clean spoon into the container, and eat it. Do NOT double dip, by the way. As you approach, dip, and eat, engage in fake commentary to the "audience" of your video about the cleanliness, atmosphere, presentation, taste, etc. Rest assured, the manager will quickly approach.

Extra shock factor: Do your "dip and eat" test right next to another customer. You could even be so bold as to say, "Excuse me, can I squeeze in here a minute?" in order to get your spoonful of the entree.

While it is a social norm violation to eat one's food while standing at the buffet, it is not against the law, nor is it expressly against any written restaurant rules.

2) Social Norm Violation Idea #2: "Pretend" injure yourself, react over-the-top

Have you ever seen a little kid screaming bloody murder and bawling their eyes out because they bumped their pinkie toe? How about an adult doing the same? No? Well, watch out world, because here you come!

In this social norm violation, you will act/pretend to hurt yourself. How you hurt yourself does not matter. The point is that you should over-react to your "injury". Fall down, roll over, scream out, squeeze the location of injury harder than necessary. Go all out. You'll be surprised how many people will actually stop to try to "help" you, even though it is obvious that you are only trying to get attention.

Extra shock factor: When someone stops to help, jump up, throw your hands in the air, and yell "Yay! I'm okay! Tah-dah!" Then walk away, like nothing out of the ordinary happened at all.

Our social up-bringing teaches us to help others in need, while at the same time minding our own business. This experiment violates the social norms of helping others on a wide scale basis.

3) Social Norm Violation Idea #3: Scary stare-down contest

This idea can be happen anytime, anywhere, so its a great option for those who don't have much time or opportunities for creating a great social norm violation scenario. Pick a person, any person, and stare at them non-stop. Keep a blank-faced stare at all times. This factor is key, as a smile will put your "victim" at ease before the experiment can be completed. It is best to choose someone who cannot escape your uncomfortable stare, such as a cashier. Stare blankly at this person for as long as you can stand it, or until security is called. When you have had enough, or just before security reaches you, simply walk away.

Extra shock factor: Wear black clothes, gothic make-up and/or attire, or dirty/torn clothes for the duration of this experiment. Your social norm violation "victims" will get scared quickly and, as a result, will react more aggressively.

Staring at people is a social taboo - something that people just don't do. Staring invades an individual's sense of personal space and privacy, to one degree or another. It is amazing how unnerved others can become when another individual stares too long in their direction.

4) Social Norm Violation Idea #4: Too slow/too fast speech

Ever meet somebody that could talk ninety miles a minute? How about the person who takes ten minutes to finish one basic idea or train of thought? Remember how annoying it was to attempt a conversation with that person? Well now's your chance to annoy the world, thanks to their, shall we say, influence.

Anytime, anyplace that you feel like doing this social norm experiment, choose one or more individuals with whom to engage in conversation. Talk about any general topic that you like, for as long as you like, at a slower OR faster than average pace. The faster or slower the speech, the better. If you're talking fast, the "victim" will quickly seem to cross/boggle their eyes, and tilt their heads as they lose track of the conversation. If talking too slow, the victim will become annoyed - even angry! Interesting how people can react in such extreme ways to something as simple as pace of speech, isn't it?

Extra shock factor: Add a funny voice to the speech speed. For example, talk like a Southern Belle at a super fast pace, or pretend to be a genius or important person (aka using big words and philosophical ideals) while speaking at a super slow pace.

This social norm violation is especially hilarious when conducted at a place of buisness where customer service is of great importance. Your "victim" will be required to listen to you diligently, regardless of how fast, or slow, or annoying your speech may be. Upon completion, you might ask a friend to stay behind and secretly film the representatives talking about you, the "strange customer."

5) Social Norm Violation Idea #5: Strange walk

This is an easy, but fun, social norm violation experiment that can also be conducted anytime, anyplace. Likewise, it offers a wide range of possibilities which you can personalize to your own preferences.

Whenever you're ready, start walking in a public place. As you walk, choose some sort of strange, out of the ordinary, walking-related behavior, such as walking on the left hand side rather than the right, walking with an accentuated up-and-down bounce, swinging your arms far and wide, etc. Go crazy with this one. The goofier your walk, the greater the reaction.

Extra shock factor: Ever seen the movie "Rain Man"? Remember how the lead character used to talk to himself, shake his head, and walk at the same time? Re-create that character yourself, in real life, as a part of your social norm violation experiment. Do avoid copying the script/lines from the movie, however, or you'll be met with laughs rather than strange glances or stepping-out-of-the-way reactions.

Walking is one of the subtle ways in which we are socialized at an early age. We are taught early on to walk straight, walk upright, walk without slapping/hitting/touching others, ect. In elementary school, we may have been taught to walk without talking, single-file, like little ducklings. These lessons stick with us for the rest of our lives, and as a result, are permeated into our society. A violation of these social norms, however, will always be met with scorn.