Catnip College

What Are Breaching Experiments?

A breaching experiment is a deliberate disruption of a social norm. They are done to gauge how strongly people react to the violation of that norm. This can tell us what social rules are most important to people. 🙂

Examples of Breaching Experiments

1. Shopping Out of a Stranger’s Cart

cart-stealer

2. Talking in Bathroom Stalls

restroom-talker

3. Popping a Child’s Balloon

pop-balloon

4. Eating a Whole Table of Free Samples

samples-guy

5. Talking Uncomfortably Close

close-talker

6. Wearing a Speedo to a Funeral

speedo-at-funeral

7. Not Engaging in Small Talk

deep-talker

8. Sitting at Someone’s Table When Others are Available

library-seats

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