ipl-logo

Social Observation: Social Norms At The Cherry Creek Mall

839 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Teenage social problems

People watching is a common pastime in our society, and let’s face it, it is instinctive. Being a keen observer of those around you can give you insight into different behaviors, which can be invaluable in your day to day life. For my social observation assignment, I decided to observe the social norms at the Cherry Creek mall. I was able to view all different types of people from children to elderly adults as they acted and reacted to established and accepted behaviors of society. Children are great subjects to observe because they do the things that adults avoid in public. By the teenage years they’ve already begun to formulate their own rigid social rituals, and adults get more and more straight-jacketed in their public behavior, for the …show more content…

On the top level of the mall, a far-eastern woman in a short black outfit walked past, she had a slender and elegant look about her that placed her firmly in the realms of deadly female assassin or mid-level marketing executive in a real-estate company. I tried not to turn around and look, lest I be marked for murder or worse yet, sold real-estate. A short, chubby, ginger-haired woman in a large red t-shirt walked passed, and later saw her again as she was leaving the Apple store. Looking up at the glass railing of the higher level, I spotted the silhouette of the far-eastern woman from before. She was still shuttling between unknown targets on the same level, walking gracefully down the sparsely populated corridors in her relaxed stroll.
How people interact within the different relationships and dynamics on display in a public place makes for fascinating viewing. I observed two families that were passing each other a few feet in front of me. A Russian woman, with husband and daughter in tow, stopped and turned around as she noticed the other couple speaking Russian. She called out to get their attention, and they continued to talk for a while, possibly asking directions or advice on something touristy from the sound of

Show More
Related
365 Words | 2 Pages

A perpetual, age old question: where does the power go? The debate of whether certain rights belong to the state or the federal government has been argued in America since its creation up to modern times. Out of necessity during the war, The Articles of Confederation were created, and shortly after that, The Constitution of the United States was written in light of the imperfections of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation originated the Federal versus states’ rights debate in America, giving the states large amounts of power, and congress almost none. The Constitution of the United States furthered the debate later on creating tensions between those who favored states’ rights and were against the ratification of the

Read More
295 Words | 2 Pages

We live in a society in which conformity is not only encouraged but often rewarded. As my grandfather used to always say, “It’s the [penguin] who is different that gets left out in the cold.” Sure, many try to push the narrative that we ought to lead, and that being divergent is what makes one “special.” But while this may be true in a purely academic sense, socially, those who do not abide by unspoken norms are typically outcast as pariahs; they are considered the “undesirables.” As such, many teenagers change their personality by emulating others in attempt to gain acceptance into certain social cliques.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

The most influential agent of socialization I the family. In this chapter this is shown, generally the kids in “street” families had the tendency to act similar to their parents. “The kind of home he comes from influences but does not determine the way he will ultimately turnout,” (105). The kids would be quick to hit someone else if they did not get their way, they would yell and argue in very unorderly fashions, just like they had seen their parents do or other adults they had been surrounded by. Aside from family peers are also a strong agent of socialization, especially in a system like this in which children are raised through accomplishment of natural growth, in which they are surrounded by other children in all their free time and often times children not in their age group.

Read More
1015 Words | 5 Pages

The question comes down to the fact that we all might turn into that in the future. Another change would be in our school systems. A lot of teens think that we are

Read More
419 Words | 2 Pages

With every new generation of teenagers or young adults, there always seems to be this negative look towards the youth culture. What really strikes me is that it happens with every new generation. It seems like once a person hits their teenage years they suddenly become “rebels” of society, and for what reason? How do most adults see the younger generation? They are young people who have bad manners, no respect for the elderly, they are real tyrants, they do not stand up when elders walk in, they do not listen to their parents or teachers, they talk in the presence of adults, and they eat gluttonously (Socrates).

Read More
1263 Words | 6 Pages

The Bystander Effect: A Result of a Human Drive Repetitive cries and screams for help were heard in Kew Gardens, New York on the Friday night of March 13th in 1964. As the 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was approaching her doorstep, an attacker –Winston Moseley- came from behind and started to stab her repeatedly. Despite her loud calls for help, turning on the bedroom lights along the neighborhood is all what her calls were capable of. None of the thirty nearby neighbors wanted to go under the spotlight of answering the call of duty so it wasn’t before 20 minutes when the anonymous hero that lived next door decided to call the police. It was four years later when our victim’s story became the perfect example to explain the social psychological

Read More
1367 Words | 6 Pages

Two major approaches when studying bystander behaviour are discourse analysis and experimental method. Latané & Darley and Levine have contributed to psychological study into this matter, using these different methods of experimentation to reach conclusions regarding the bystander effect. This essay will begin by describing the different uses of evidence in both methods. Furthermore, it will discuss what these methods have in common, for they equally attempt to understand why bystander behaviour occurs, and the reasons that they differ. It will examine why each method is a useful way of analysing human behaviour, and the similarities in the limited demographics used by these particular psychologists.

Read More
1166 Words | 5 Pages

Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples discusses the relevant issues of racial bias and how prejudice against people of color has embedded minds, as it demonstrates the importance of being aware of how we conceive others. Staples uses a contrasting element of race by introducing a white female and a black male. He uses his experiences and other people of colour to display the struggles of racism they face everyday. Staples reveals how people are prejudice against appearance, despite the importance of individuality of people and being impartial regardless of someone 's skin or looks. The story begins with Staples describing his first experience frightening a white women due to the colour of his skin.

Read More
1507 Words | 7 Pages

Anthropologist Edward T. Hall’s theory of high- and low-context culture helps us better understand the powerful effect culture has on communication. A key factor in his theory is context. This relates to the framework, background, and surrounding circumstances in which communication or an event takes place. The following highlights the problems facing low-context Americans when they interact with people from high-context cultures such as Japan in the movie ‘The Last Samurai’.

Read More
1821 Words | 8 Pages

3.1) Theories of Behaviour Management Behaviour management is a tool, a system, generates learning environment to encourage positive behaviour and minimise the opportunity for negative conduct to occur. It is like modifying and change learner's action in a positive manner where the primary focus lies on maintaining order. Many theorists presented their views in their research work on the understanding of the nature of the behaviour BILL ROGER is an education consultant and author present his work on behaviour management, discipline, effective teaching, and stress management etc. and also lectures widely covers the topic to both the learner and the teacher for the challenges facing in leadership in educational premises. Bill Roger recommended

Read More
510 Words | 3 Pages

In the news there are always people talking about teenagers and about what they do and how they act. Teenagers sometimes make mistakes and have a bad day doing it tennagers have to think about what they do every day no matter what it is or what their doing. Another reason why is because of school and what they do in it. Tennagers aren’t just not careless they sometimes in between ages 15 to ages 17 go out and do things and some tennagers tell their parents what they are doing before they do it also tennagers will not lie about where or what they did to their parents because they will know what will happen to them if they don’t.

Read More
820 Words | 4 Pages

At some point in our lives, we have learned by observing the behaviors of others. Observation can play a very important role in determining what and how we learn. It can have positive or negative effects on one 's development and behavior, especially in children. This is demonstrated in the social learning theory.

Read More
714 Words | 3 Pages

It is the period where most developments such as physical changes, social developments, and developments of moral reasoning take place. A substantial amount of cognitive development also takes place at this stage. As such, parents and guardians should relax childhood restrictions and allow their children to be more involved in making decisions that affect their lives. However, as some of the teenagers might not have established commitments to a particular identity, parents should retain their roles as sources of support, guidance, and comfort to their

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Public Space Observation Rachael Blouw Doctor Henderson World Urban Sociology For this project, I went to the University Center main lobby to observe people’s behavior. In this space, there are many people who were walking around, sitting at tables, and going to classes. This public area can be accessed by anyone for most of the day, except at night. I decided to sit toward the back of the lobby area, so I could watch everyone while they went about their business. I noticed several different behaviors between people.

Read More
775 Words | 4 Pages

Your class has listened to a radio discussion about how adults can be a good influence on younger people. You have made the notes below: Ways adults can influence how younger people behave:  giving rules 
  setting an example 
  offering advice 
 Some opinions expressed in the discussion: “Sometimes it’s fun to break the rules!” 
“If you admire somebody, you try to behave like them.”

Read More

More about Social Observation: Social Norms At The Cherry Creek Mall

Related Topics

Open Document