Social norms shape how we communicate with strangers from "summary" of Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
When we interact with strangers, we rely on social norms to guide our behavior. These norms dictate how we should act, speak, and interpret the actions of others in a given situation. They serve as a set of unwritten rules that help us navigate unfamiliar social territory and establish a sense of order and predictability in our interactions. For example, when we meet someone for the first time, we often exchange pleasantries and engage in small talk to break the ice. This serves as a way to establish rapport and create a comfortable atmosphere for conversation. These unwritten rules of engagement help establish a baseline for communication and set the tone for the interaction that follows. Social norms also shape our expectations of how others will behave in a given situation. We rely on these norms to make sense of the behavior of strangers and interpret their actions within the context of our shared understanding of social rules. When someone deviates from these norms, it can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, and even conflict in our interactions with them.- Social norms act as a kind of social script that guides our interactions with strangers. They provide us with a framework for how to communicate, what to expect from others, and how to interpret their behavior. By adhering to these norms, we are able to establish common ground with strangers and navigate the complexities of social interaction with greater ease and understanding.
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