FREE ESSAY ON NORMATIVE BEHAVIOR

NORMATIVE BEHAVIOR

Is individual behavior truly a formation and development of individual concepts or is it
simply a conglomeration of normative behavior expectations? It is a question wrought with
complex variables. Many scientists, both social and physical would agree that behavior is
developed by environmental expression as well as genetic factors. Unfortunately, this is
the junction where their union begins to disjoint. Some argue that socially expected
behavior drives the behavior of an individual, while others may hold that individual
expression is just that, unique and characterized by self-introspection. However, others
take hold of the viewpoint that behavior is developed through both individual expression
as well as culturally learned normative behavior.
Normative behavior has been more than apparent in development of behavior patterns among
virtually all individuals. According to social scientists, virtually all behavior stems
from normative behavior. However, this would in turn mean that we, as individuals make no
choices. Are we truly confined to the hive mind? Are we, only one sheep, in a flock of
million. Sheep without any apparent say in our course, forever doomed to follow the
societal wills that is our shepherd? It is obvious that society guides the course of the
people within it. Society controls the people through its mores and folkways. It keeps
its members in line with threats of humiliation or retaliation.
Societies "mores" are the most important code of conduct. These mores are the laws on
which the societies are based, with violation of these codes resulting in very harsh
punishments. Societies "folkways" are less stringent codes of conduct. Violation of these
folkways often results in exclusion or general feeling of social disapproval. This common
way of feeling and acting helps delineate right and wrong. Although both have
significantly different levels of importance within a society, any violation usually
results in some form of punishment. Moreover, they both contribute to mold the society's
inhabitants, with anyone not following these norms immediately labeled as outcasts or
social deviants.
Ralph Waldo Emerson a renowned Transcendentalist, identified the concepts of normative
behavior within a literary sense in his rather fervent speech "The American Scholar".
Emerson berates the academic community for sometimes going beyond the written word.
Emerson begins by condemning those "bookworms" who would place literature on a pedestal,
perhaps forgetting one day that indeed the work may be great, but it was not the words of
an omnipotent being. Instead he argues that it is merely words from a man, a being that
can never be "perfect". Calling for a change in thought among literary circles, he urges
contemporary writers to lay their foundations on previous author's creative process,
allowing them to release their own talents, rather than have them strain to model books
they had previously assimilated. 
His solicitations for the removal of the pedestal on which many pieces of literature lie
bring the readers to ponder what are the true deeper meanings within themselves. As a
transcendentalist his views on individualistic thought and expression are reflected in
his speech. His preaching against the herd mentality, whether it be regarding literature
or within life, define the virtues for which Emerson obviously hopes to share.
Nevertheless, Emerson does not discard literature itself as flawed. Instead he maintains
the necessity of free thought when interpreting the texts; the persistent need for
analysis and self-introspection. With this message Emerson walks the fine line between
two schools of thought.
Moreover, history has shown that the ideas can and are manipulated. Although not all
literature stipulates manipulation, most literature is a subtle form of coercion. The
doctrines laid out to create sensationalism by yellow journalism in America during the
19th and 20th century has persistently shaped minds. The media has often been blamed for
giving the minds of John Q. Public a thorough washing. However, Emerson also points his
finger at public, criticizing them for allowing such blatant manipulation to take place.
To Emerson and many others, the group sees, hears and thinks as a hive mind, believing
that their doctrine is golden, merely because previous minds found them to be so. Where
were the processes of thought? Was it all merely recognition of events, predigested for
the masses?
These neat prepackaged ways of thought seemed to fit rather snugly with many of today's
post-industrial societies. Today, no one man needs to learn how an automobile works to
use it, they need not worry how their water travels to their house or electricity to
their outlets. Today, they merely care if these intricate networks of reactions work the
way they are required, with the ignorant yet utilitarian ideology of "if it ain't broke
don't fix it". With processed food, processed this and processed that, it is no wonder
that processed thought comes into play. Societies have historically always shared in
misconceptions brought upon by common thoughts. Whether these thoughts were artificially
manipulated and implanted or gathered collectively from general sources.
Emerson's individualistic callings may be extreme, however he clearly emphasizes how
normative behavior drives society and manipulates behavior and thought on a massive
scale. Nevertheless, a person's development depends as much on the person as the society
around them. It is perhaps the classical concept of gene expression, when exposed to
certain environments, certain traits would become dominant. With no particular rhyme or
reason the environmental aspects such as normative behavior and genetic expression
commingle to form what we know as human behavior. Normative behavior alone will not
define a person, instead it gives the individual an acceptable set of parameters to
operate within, a form of social blueprint. As a social science, it is impossible to
clearly link behavior with intangible aspects. 
However this lack of finality can be the greatest virtue, allowing for a degree of
latitude during interpretation. It continues to remind us the behavior of individuals are
not set in stone, some will follow the guidelines set by society others will continue to
color outside the lines. Beliefs that a person is purely influenced by self-expression
and individualism or that all actions we commit are controlled wholly by normative
behavior is just as foolish as to believe that there is