I have friends that are breaking Non-Verbal norms for psychology classes and even speech classes. Ranging from sitting in a revolving door and watching how people react to sitting down right next to someone in an empty restaraunt. That brings me to my question. Anyone here ever done this for fun or for a class and if so what did you do? I’m sure there are some good ones out there.
Does anyone know what I am talking about or do I need to explain better?? Or is it just that no one has any at the moment?
I know a group in a pysch class awhile back tested peoples’ response to watching a person on crutches fall. Surprise surprise, the cute girl in the group always got the most help when she fell in a crowded hallway.
When I worked in an office building, I used to enjoy any opportunity to stand in a crowded elevator facing the “wrong” way.
I also apply Post-It notes with the sticky strip at the bottom (or, less frequently, the left-hand side). I’ve seen this really weird some folks out.
I once saw a drunk guy sit down in a revolving door. Damn annoying, since I was trying to go through it at the time.
I have also enjoyed staring at people at another table in a restaurant, and then looking away a second after they notice me, and then doing it again, over and over. Some people end up ignoring you, some get really agitated.
Thanks for the replies everyone…I’m sure there are plenty more…I just can’t think of them all!
Try approaching a long row of urinals and using the one next to the only other guy there. I had a whole lecture about “urinal psychology” in my psych 101 class in college.
We did that “violating non-verbal norms” bit too. It’s fun! I did the wrong way in the elevator bit. You can also use a personal space violation to walk a Midwesterner around the room at a party.
Wear badly mismatched clothing or jewelry.
Stand in a line at a fast-food joint facing backwards.
Good fun! Just don’t actually touch anybody, or break the law or violate safety standards, and have some fun. Let us know how it goes!
How about reading a Bible on public transport.
Crusoe - cheers mate.
I am glad they are teahcing this one.
“People who hog the bar counter when the pub is very busy, blocking the way so other people can’t get served
makes me wanna smash a pot in someones neck !
While saying “yes,” shake your head from side to side. While saying “no,” nod your head up and down. (Note: this is no good in certain Subsaharan cultures.)
Anyone ever seen or heard of a website with a list of these?? The urninal one is definetly a good one…we discussed that one quite a bit as well. Lol
How charming! Now, when you become disabled or disfigured later in life, you’ll already know what it’s like to be stared at.
Corr
who breaks a norm every time she goes out in public
Well, in the SCA, we call it “freaking the mundanes.” Try wearing 15th century clothing to a gas station in Wisconsin sometime.