Social Norms Definition

Each culture is abundant with social norms, values, and traditions. I was assigned a culture other than my own to research for the course Psychology in Culture offered at Mesa Community College. Over the progression of my research I am prepared to encounter stereotypes (2/5 Lecture), an over generalization and social norms (1/17 Lecture), unspoken rules, are a part of our everyday life. Ethnocentrism is another key aspect in understanding cultural differences and knowing judgements can be false. Ethnocentrism (1/17 Lecture) is judging others using own culture or experiences as a measure of normal.

We are all guilty of having stereotypes ingrained in our head regarding other cultures to create mental shortcuts. The culture I was raised in is

for example. Men hold higher up positions in government, household, and percent of educational degrees achieved. If you decide to venture from your home to Switzerland, you will need to know two very important aspects. Socialization, the manner we learn how to interact (2/21 Lecture) is a vital aspect when going out. Small talk is frowned upon at cash registers and so is other stranger-to-stranger interaction activities. If you think about it cross-culturally or in the respect of not knowing others social norms, it can be easy to be offended if you did not understand that they may not act like your typical interactions from your day to day life. Also, Switzerland in general is expensive. You’ll miss the days of paying less than twenty dollars for a tasty lunch out. The Swiss culture is unique in its own and has many similarities to other countries all

No matter how others around them feel about it. Thelocal.ch says be prepared for a very “every man for himself” mentality because they have a social norm of not lining up. Even at the bus, market, and cheese counter expect to push your way to the front. The web article also explains how their national identity and relationship between people or different locations have proven to make the Swiss more reserved with strangers. This gives them the more neutral allure I’ve heard about. Down playing their life story when meeting a new stranger could have become present because of globalization. They downplay their emotions so much that it appears to be an example of deamplification. Display rules are socially or culturally influenced norms for when and how an emotion is expressed (3/19, Lecture). The display rule deamplification is defined as showing less than what you feel (3/19, Lecture). Also, Switzerland has been exposed to westernization and modernization. They are one of the leaders in the world change, if anything. They have incorporated rules such as specific recycle bins in the city and even fight for gender equality and easier citizenship.

The course Psychology in Culture helped me become am aware of how globalization has touched the lives of the Swiss. It also has shown that a culture's social norms are subject to change if the right environmental factors are