Norms and Interests when it hurts

It all started out as a mundane Sunday night.  I was getting my work done, reading and getting everything prepared for Monday's long day at school.  I was walking along the hallway when I felt something snap in my leg.  Needless to say the I knew something was wrong and like a slow motion movie it took a second or two for the PAIN to register in my head.  When it did I let out a yell that made my poor sick wife jump up from the couch and a deep sleep.  After realizing that I didn't break anything and that I had no idea what happened, I decided to go to the closest hospital to find out what the heck happened.  I was diagnose with a torn mussel after they checked my for blood clots and annurisms.  

Here is where  I look at the coorolation between the norms and interests involved.  I decided to go to  the closest hospital because it was to my advantage or interest.  If I didn't go to the hospital in Cranberry Twp. I would have to travel to Butler or Pittsburgh instead.  So it was in my best interest to go to my local hosptal insead.  The insurance company would prefer that I went to the hospital within my plan because they have agreements to pay these facilities less that they will have to pay my local hospital.  The insurance carrier established rules and regulatios that govern the behavior of their customers in order to "provide them with the best service".  I think its because they just want to make more and more money, (but that is a personal opinion based on years of fighting with them).  The carrier establised rules or norms to govern our behavior in an effort to streamline their service and thus provide a supposide cost effective service.  

In this case the NORMS that were exibited in this case are th rules established by the carier to force customer behavior in line with their desires.  The fact that I went to another facilty that they do not prefer shows taht I took my own INTEREST into consieration and did what was in my best advantage.    Norms as codified rules govern our lives everyday.  We follow the rules or laws wen we stop at a stop sign to prevent an accident from occurring.  However, we know that it is in our best interest and advantage to obey the norm because of the consequence when we don't. So there are situations when our behaviors govern or acceptance and adherence to norms.

And oh by the way, my leg is getting better. Thanks for thinking about me.

JKL