Sociological Concepts: Face, Deference, and Interaction Rituals

Vocabulary flashcards covering key sociological concepts from the lecture, including Erving Goffman's theories of face, face work, demeanor, deference, and the use of identity props.

Face

The characteristics, qualities, and persona that an individual presents to others within a social role to convince the audience they are the appropriate type of person for that position.

Being In Face

A state achieved when an individual performs their role correctly and embodies the expected persona and behavior associated with that role.

Breaking Face

An occurrence where an individual's social persona is disrupted or contradicted during an interaction, creating an awkward situation that is difficult to recover from.

Saving Face

The reciprocal effort made by an individual or their audience to overlook faux pas, prevent embarrassment, and maintain the continuity of a social interaction.

Face Work

The communicative actions and behavioral adjustments made to avoid falling out of face, uphold one's social standing, and conform to cultural expectations.

Props

Physical objects—such as laptops, clothing, decor, or beer boxes—that individuals use to support their roles and project an identity to the surrounding world.

Deference

A level of respect shown toward someone based on their social position or role, typically expressed through rituals like polite greetings, compliments, and small services.

Demeanor

An internalized code of conduct that an individual holds deeply and adheres to, acting as their own audience to live up to even when completely unobserved.

Interaction Rituals

Unspoken, shared social rules that structure interpersonal exchanges, establish levels of hierarchy, and maintain social distance between participants.

Apple Computer (as a Prop)

An item utilized by college students as a social prop to project identity and coolness, despite Apple holding only a $10\text{ to }12\%$ share in the broader computer market.

HOKA Shoes (Lecture Context)

A consumer prop signaling to others that the wearer is serious about working out.

On Cloud Shoes (Lecture Context)

A consumer prop signaling that the wearer is serious about working out, very wealthy, and somewhat pompous.