Manners Count: Politeness Culture

A great TEDx talk by Lynne Murphy, this presentation explores perceptions and preconceptions of politeness and how we build cultures around what is considered acceptability.

Murphy explores the idea that social hierarchy determines our understanding of what is and is not polite, when we should strive for acceptance and likeability over marginalizing ourselves by exerting our expectations of respect and equality. She describes having a "positive face" and a "negative face" which we all have and select during each interaction we have with others. Any time we interact with someone, we are engaging with their positive/negative faces and this exchange drives whether we will feel a sense of belonging or rejection.

Watch the video when you get a chance:

Plus! My classmates and I pulled together a manners video for University of Toronto students called, StuDonts, a guide to being polite and considerate.

#manners #psychology #sociology #politeness #culture #video