On Face-Work: Irving Goffman

A social relationship can be seen as

A way in which a person is more ordinarily forced to trust their self-image and face the tact and good conduct of others.

The avoidance process

In order to prevent threats to one's face, avoid any interaction where this could occur. -Keeping off topic (say: politics or religion). -If someone fails to prevent an incident of threat, they can pretend that they were not defaced in any way.

Effort

Lack of effort on the part of one person induces compensative effort on the part of others.

A Line

A pattern of verbal and nonverbal acts by which someone expresses their view of the situation and themselves (through the way they treat other people).

The Corrective Process

-An attempt to ratify the incident as a threat that needs official attention and correctiveness. -The two people are in a state of ritual disequilibrium and must reach equilibrium again.

To Save Face

-Once someone takes a particular image, they feel the need to live up to that image.

Definition of self

1. Self as an image pieced together from the expressive implications of the full flow of events in an undertaking. 2. Self as a player in a ritual game. These two roles are both separated an related.

The person will have two points of view

Defensive orientation: Saving one's own face Protective orientation: Saving the face of the other person.

Variation in social skill

Depends on the effectiveness of face-work, not the variance of application.

A person's performance of facework

Determines the degree to which he is compliant with the rules of social interaction. -This person is an interactant

Tact on the part of facework

Relies on a tacit agreement to do business through the language of hint - innuendos, ambiguities, well-placed pauses, carefully worded jokes, etc.

Shameless

Someone who shows no emotion when they themselves are being defaced is considered shameless by society.

Heartless

Someone who witnesses another's defacement without emotion is considered heartless by society.

Tact/diplomacy/social skill

The ability to recognize and implement face-work.

Poise

The capacity to conceal and suppress any tendency to become shamefaced during an interaction.

Face-Work

The designation of actions taken by a person in order to be consistent with their face. Ex: Poise

Face

The positive social value a person effectively claims for themselves through the taking of their line. -Self-delineation -Diffusely located in the flow of events.

Interchange

The sequence of acts acknowledging the threat to face and terminating in the reestablishment of equilibrium. -The Challenge -The offering -Acceptance -Gratitude

To Lose Face

To be in wrong face, to be out of face, to be shamefaced.

Hinted communication

is deniable communication. (The receiver can deny understanding the hint).