Facework : Impression Management

Question 1

According to Goffman, when we enter the presence of others, we first need to do what? Why is that?

Answer 1

First figure out who we are in relation to one another
- This helps us to know how to act in that situation

Question 2

What kinds of information do we use in this process?

Answer 2

Besides appearance and behavior, we use
- presence in situation
- who we are with
- prior interactions
- reputation
- documentary evidence

Question 3

What does Goffman call an agreement not to disagree?

Answer 3

Goffman calls this a Working Consensus
- It is an agreement on whose claims concerning what issues will be temporarily honored.

Question 4

Why are first impressions so important?

Answer 4

Since we start to form impressions based on the initial information we have, that initial information is crucial in how others define the situation and begin to act

Question 5

When a person claims an identity that places a moral demand on that person and on others. Explain.

Answer 5

When you make an identity claim, you become morally obligated to live up to that claim
- You must be who who you claim to be (e.g., friend, lover)
- Must treat the other in keeping with that claim (e.g, act like a friend or lover)

Question 6

What happens when something discrediting occurs, and why?

Answer 6

The interaction you are having with the other person may come to a confused and embarrassed halt

Question 7

Before an encounter, how can one avoid threats to face?

Answer 7

Avoid contacts → avoid people and situations in which threats are likely to occur

Question 8

Within an encounter, what are two defensive tactics?

Answer 8

1. Avoid topics or activities → what are some topics that you often want to avoid with relatives or others?
2. Make modest claims → don’t challenge others with claims that you can beat them

Question 9

Name 6 ways to protect the face of others

Answer 9

1. Show respect and politeness – so even if you do make a mistake, they are more apt to ignore or forgive it
2. Use discretion and leave unstated facts
3. Phrase replies ambiguously – say something is interesting instead of saying that you don’t like it.
4. Use courtesies when making requests – modify demands so they don’t threaten self-respect.
5. Use a joking manner
   ​​5. Provide explanations ahead of time – to avoid leaving abruptly which may raise questions about what someone might have said or done to offend

Question 10

Ignoring an event requires what on your part and what on the part of others?

Answer 10

• This requires poise on your part
• It also requires tactful blindness on the part of others

Question 11

What are the four components of a corrective interchanges?

Answer 11

1. The challenge – calling attention to the misconduct
2. The offering – an effort to correct for the offense
3. The acceptance of the offering - you must keep apologizing until the other person feels you have been contrite enough
4. The expression of gratitude – for being forgiven

Question 12

Which stage is often omitted? Why?

Answer 12

Often the challenge is omitted
- Because the person realizes the mistake and begins the offering without being challenged

Question 13

What may happen if the challenge is ignored?

Answer 13

Sometimes the other will wait to see if an apology is offered, and be even more offended if an apology is not initiated without a challenge

Question 14

Why is it that sometimes both people apologize?

Answer 14

It may not be clear who is to blame
- It is often more desirable to resolve the situation quickly, instead of wasting time determining blame and who should apologize to whom

Question 15

Is the expressed reason always the true reason? Explain.

Answer 15

Encounters must have a reason for ending; that’s why the termination principles can be used to save face when an encounter is ended
- As a result, the expressed reason for ending may not be the real reason for ending the encounter

Question 16

Name the Albert & Kessler’s 8 termination principles and give an example of each.

Answer 16

1. The summary – this is a selective, repetitive, condensed history of the encounter; an example is saying “Good game” instead of “I beat you”
2. Using up a resource – an example is meeting over lunch.
3. Partitioning the Encounter - You look for a natural break, such as between a speech and a reception.
4. Utilizing the physical environment – an example is “Let me walk you to the elevator.”
5. Expanding the Social Environment - since it is awkward to walk away and leave someone standing alone, introducing the person to someone else solves this replacement problem
6. Expanding the temporal environment - referring to a future activity implies that the current encounter will need to end.
7. The continuity principle
8. The promise of continuity

Question 17

How can a person avoid abruptness when leaving for another appointment?

Answer 17

Announce the ending time in advance

Question 18

What is the effect of glancing at one’s watch? Why is that?

Answer 18

May imply a desire for the encounter to end, which might be considered rude, unless you explain that you need to leave soon for another commitment