Blog #1

In this week’s reading Goffman focuses on the roles of deference and demeanor in micro interaction; deference is the act in which individuals interact via the exchange of “promises” with one another and demeanor is the way in which an individual presents themselves to society.  Both deference and demeanor can be symmetrical (where both individuals are social equals) or asymmetrical (where the individuals are not on the same social level.)  This hierarchy of social level plays a role in the interaction that will occur.  Brian Colwell takes this ideal further as he separates the interaction between inmates into two categories: deference (behavior based on actors by rank of power and prestige) and respect (behavior rooted in perceived similarities and differences between actors.)  Colwell argues that this separation between deference and respect allows actors to acknowledge the value of other actors, while at the same time maintaining the social hierarchy. 

In his study of California prison inmates he discovered that subjects were more likely to act favorably towards other inmates who had qualities that they perceived similar to their own, regardless of that inmate’s social level.  In this situation the ideal of respect would overcome the norm restraints of asymmetrical deference.  For example, an inmate may be of a lower social level in prison but if that particular inmate went to church for 15 years with other inmates of a higher social level, the inmates from the higher social level would treat the inmate from the lower social level more favorably due to that common interest regardless of their superior status.  Drawing from Durkheim, Colwell equates deference to dealing with the “profane” and respect in dealing with the “sacred.”  This ideal of respect allows for a closer analysis of Goffman’s asymmetrical deference. 

Reference:

 

Colwell, B., 2007, ‘Deference or Respect? Status Management Practices Among Prison Inmates’, Social Psychology Quarterly 70: 442-462.