Which of the following are the norm in one or more groups that you belong to? Write your responses in your journal:

1. People use their cars to go short distances even when there is no need to do so.
2. People are surprised when someone uses the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
3. People don't mention it if someone else's smoking bothers them.
4. People take on more responsibility than they can handle.
5. People view being slightly overweight as natural," particularly for older people.
6. People drink a great many coffee and cola drinks and other caffeine-based beverages.
7. People persuade guests to stay for one more round of drinks or "one more for the road."
8. Restaurant staff expect patrons to have a drink before or during dinner.
9. Friends make jokes that support gender, racial, or sexual prejudice.
10. People act offended by public breastfeeding.
11. Mothers bottle-feed in the face of overwhelming evidence that it is harmful to their child.
12. Mothers return to work outside the home and leave their very young child(ren) in the care of random strangers.
13. People do not see themselves as being as capable as they really are.

Modified, with permission, from Robert F. Allen with Shirley Linde, "Cultural Norm Indicator" in Lifegain, (Human Resources Institute, 1981).

---