SA21 C Breaching Experiment (Atienza, Cabal, Chibueze, Roxas, Santiago, Tugonon)

   
1. What norm did you violate?

The norm we deviated from is the established “correct” use of escalators. Escalators are intended to help someone go up or down faster with less effort. With this, it establishes the perception that its correct use is for going up when the steps move upwards and going down when the steps move downward.

2.    Describe the breaching experiment in detail. What was the activity? Where did you do it?

A member of our group walked on the opposite direction of the escalator to see the reactions of the people walking the proper direction of the escalator. This was done seriously as if this was truly what was intended to be done. This experiment was done in Regis Center Katipunan, Greenhills, and Shoppesville.

3.    What were the different reactions of the people? List all possible reactions you observed. Why do you think they reacted this way? What caused these reactions? Did the deviant act reaffirm/reinforce the existing norms based on these reactions?

Most people just stared and gave strange looks, stepping aside to make room, some people laughed, a few seemed annoyed, and a few called out the one doing the experiment during and after the experiment. These reactions are certainly caused by the fact that people really don’t use escalators the opposite way. Indeed, the deviant act reaffirm and reinforce the existing norms based on the reactions of the people when we did the experiment. 

Here are some lines that capture the reactions of the people:

Adolescent boy: “Anong ginagawa mo? What the fuck?”

Vendor: “Kuya bakit ka umakyat don? Pinapagod mo sarili mo.”

Lady “Ay. Bobo ba talaga mga negro ano ba ginagawa niya.”

4.    Aside from these norms, what sociological themes are at play for people to react in a certain way? Is it a function of gender (gender norms, roles), social class (norms of the rich and the poor), values/beliefs of institutions (religion, family, peer group, etc.)?

Sociological themes at play include social roles and gender.

In Regis Center Katipunan, although it was the janitor who saw the wrong escalator was being used, he did not approach the one doing the experiment and instead told the guard and the guard was the one who approached the one doing the experiment. Similarly, in Greenhills, it was only the guard that called up the attention of the one doing the experiment. Most people who work in the establishments also laughed and it was only after the experiment when a transaction was made with one of the vendors in the establishment that the vendor asked why the wrong escalator was being used. Most of the people who just stared were composed of those who are shopping or just passing by.

With regards to gender, when it was a girl that did the experiment, the security guard didn’t call the attention of the one doing the experiment and merely stared.

Reactions from the two genders are also generally different. It was generally the guys found the experiment to be funny; some even made jokes and tried to copy the the experiment. In contrast, the girls witnessing the experiment seemed to be more more judgmental and annoyed with the activity. Boys continued using the escalators while some girls decide not to use it anymore.

Individuals also tended to stare and get annoyed; while groups of people tended to stare and share funny looks with their group.

5.    How did you feel when you did this experiment? How does it feel to deviate from the norms? Were you hesitant to do the activity?

Most of us were shy, hesitant, and embarrassed initially because we expected people to be annoyed, judgmental, or mad. However, in the end it was a very satisfying, liberating and exciting experience to deviate from the norms and try something new. It was also interesting and fun to see the different reactions of the people.

6.    Other observation and analysis that you may have on the activity and on deviance in general.

The deviance in the experiment was a very simple violation of a folkway, which are just norms for routine and casual interaction developed through customary, normal, and habitual way of doing something. However it is interesting to note how strong our social control in terms of self-control (internalization and acceptance of norms and values) and informal control (self-restrain exercised because of what others will think) was whenever we began doing the experiment and how strong the feeling of satisfaction, liberation and excitement was when we finally went against the norm.

Link to videos