Sample Illustration 1 - Face-Negotiation Theory

The following illustration (the clip and the writing) was provided by a former student of Com 103.

Brothers & Sisters: Justin’s Intervention (8:32)



This video clip embodied Face-Negotiation Theory which describes how people from different cultures, small groups or close relationships manage conflict negotiation to maintain face.

The clip “Justin’s Intervention” from the series Brothers & Sisters is about one brother, Justin, who is addicted to pain killers and the entire family of six, plus two concerned friends (non-family) gather to confront him. However, Justin feels it is an ambush and feels cornered and embarrassed –he loses face and with that goes his self-respect within his family dynamics and relationships. Face is defined as a metaphor for the public image people display, the image of the self that people display in their conversations with others (p 483). Initially Justin attempts to save-face, defined as to prevent embarrassment or vulnerability to himself. He uses a negative face in his desire to be autonomous and free from the others. Justin employs face-threatening acts (FTA’s) to threaten each person with insults and embarrassing information, and directly challenges each person present for the intervention in order to restore his face within the family this leads to two people (non-family) leaving the house. Finally his sister, Kitty, steps up to manage the conflict that has escalated between the family members. Justin begins to attack her and she provokes him calmly with “go ahead, say it” and instead Kitty confronts him with his addiction, “I’m here and dealing with your addiction”. Kitty employs two types of facework strategies. Initially she uses tact facework where she allowes Justin the freedom to act as he feels and does not restrict or interrupt his insulting tirade on the others. Kitty then moves to solidarity facework to enhance the connection between the two of them. She does this by telling Justin, “I’m bleeding and aching, I just had a miscarriage but I’m dealing with you. Tell me what is it that I am doing that isn’t all about how much I love you”. Justin then changes his face to face restoration, which occurs after the loss of face has happened and he says he is sorry and states that he needs time to think.

This clip also shows the collectivism orientation within the family. I believe who they accomplish this through their family solidarity to heal one person in the family that needs all of their support and love. Collectivism is the “we” identity and places emphasis on the group’s goals, groups obligations and in-group needs over the individuals. This was evident when they all received the telephone call summoning them to the intervention for their brother. Although they may all operate most of the time within individualism, which emphasizes the individual identity and needs over the group identity, they also value inclusion and the desire to fulfill another’s needs within their family.

Originally Erving Goffman (1967) did not feel that the term, face would be applied to close relationships and was more pertinent to the study of social groups. However, over time the study of face has come to include close relationships and small groups which would include family members and a family.