Final answer:
Non-normative life events are unique, unanticipated occurrences in an individual's life. They differ from cultural norms that dictate more predictable events, such as starting school or marriage. Understanding these differences can offer insight into the varying social scripts of life events across cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-normative life events refer to unique and unanticipated events that can have a significant impact on an individual's life. These could include a change in financial state, transitioning to a different line of work, outstanding personal achievement, changes in living conditions, or even surviving an accident. In contrast to normative events which occur predictably and are shared by most people across a culture, such as marriage or retiring, non-normative events are unexpected and do not follow a predictable timeline.
Cultural variance in social norms illustrates how life experiences differ globally. For instance, the age when children start school or the celebrations of age-transition points like bar mitzvahs, quinceañeras, or marriage ceremonies differ from one society to another. Social expectations are enforced by culture and can change over time as society's views on family and life events evolve, as suggested by flexible models like the family life course.
Exposure to different cultural events and traditions, like attending a religious service or a social ceremony you're unfamiliar with, can offer perspective on how life varies in other countries and how one's life might change in different social contexts. Living abroad could introduce you to new norms regarding age-transition points and the ways in which certain life events are celebrated or recognized, revealing the fluidity and diversity of life's social script.