Week 3 Discussion: Norms

1). Are there group norms at SJSU? What are they? In the group of individuals that you spend time with, are there group norms? What are they? In both cases, how did you identify these norms? How did you adapt to these norms?

When I hear the word "norm", I immediately think about cliques and groups that are expected  in society to be 'normal'. Here at SJSU, it is without a doubt that we are exposed to a diverse group of people that range from different ages, religions, ethnicities, social statuses and races. Because we are exposed to so many different types of cultures and people, it's not surprising that people will drift off into their own groups that they will consider the "norm".  If you look around campus, we see that the sororities are a group of norms, the art majors are grouped as norms, dancers are grouped together as norms, etc. Each clique share a common interest that they consider to be normal. The group I hang out majority of the time on campus are mostly my old high school friends. Even though we were not technically "put" in this group, we managed to congregate together because we share the same norm of going to the same high school and growing up in the same neighborhood. Whether or not we are studying the same major or participating in the same club, we share similar interests that bring us together into a group. There are many ways to identify a group as being a norm. Each group you approach, they will most likely consider themselves as the norms because it's what they believe in. I believe that adaptation to groups happen mostly to freshmen in college. Finding your group of norms is done mostly in the beginning of the year; finding the group that you fit in with most. Thus, many groups adapt to people who surround themselves with those alike with one another, i.e.; same majors, similar hobbies, same interests, etc.  I believe that SJSU has hundreds to thousands types of group norms, but because we are so diverse, it only helps/promote the positivity of diversity.