People typically adjust to a group's
social norms by:
1.paying attention to the negative
consequences that result when someone
violates one of those norms.
2.noticing the differences among group
members' behaviors.
3.asking a group leader to explain why
they think and behave the way they do.
4.deliberately behaving in a way that is
different from the group members.
I am thinking it is number 1 or 2,
but I donot know which one.What do you
think? Is it number 1 or 2?
In the military, why are court martials so effective? It is not solely because of what happened to the accused. Is it that the military justice system is NOT to provide justice, but rather a system to provide norms of behaviour for others?
I had a student years ago who was "shunned" by her church for her tendency to exercise teen free expression (or perhaps unthinking behavior). I noticed the other church kids that had been her "friends", now abandoned her, but their behavior changed....they were very careful not only of that they did, but even said to anyone. They became shells of expression, only mouthing what they thought they were supposed to say.
So I think we pay attention to negative consequences, and adjust behavior, whether that is for the greater good or not.
OK, Marybeth: Ypu have two ideas. The answer may boil down to the word "typically" in the question. Take a look here in this theory of group dynamics:
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Forming-storming-norming-performing
Pay attention to the phases storming, and norming. Different groups may or may not enter norming, but you decide what typically happens. Some group models put storming and norming as one process, as a give and give back process. I think personally, it depends on the size of the group. Large groups in my opinion tend to hang in storming, and smaller groups head for norming.
Good question.
So,in your opinion you are saying,
the correct answer would be:
(1) paying attention to the negative
consequences that result when
someone violates one of those
norms.
I disagree with BobPursley. The military or a church that shuns are not normal situations. In my opinion, people who join a new group pay attention to the behaviors of the members. They are drawn to certain people and make an attempt to emulate them. My choice would be number 2.