Civil Inattention, Essay Example

Civil inattention is defined as the process whereby an individual demonstrates to another individual that they are within each other’s presence, for example: a passing glance, a nudge, a wink, etc.  It is the concept of paying recognition to the other person’s presence without becoming too forward.  It could be a simple interaction of looking into the eyes of another individual, but not concentrating the gaze so as to stare at them.  The key issue here is that it is attention grabbing without invading the other person’s privacy.

There is a human sociological aspect to this and a part of our human conditioning.  So the inattention is a subtle means of bonding and not treating all strangers as potential enemies or threats,  as such, the stranger escapes the fate that would befall an enemy i.e., hostility, anger or aggression.  We are all strangers to other humans, as opposed to friends and families, as such would become cheated  of protection in moral proximity to others.

A field study, “Elevators were used as a field setting to examine the existence of civil inattention (Goffman, 1963)” (Miron Zuckerman).  Shows that civil attention exists in confined spaces like elevators with over 50% giving visual recognition at the commencement of the ride and then no further contact. 35% added additional glances renewing their comfort zone whereas a few stared at subjects for the duration of the ride.  Part of our culture also involves bonding with others and this is often expressed through eye contact. Interaction between the eyes can be favourable or unfavourable and this can often determine whether initial contact is friendly and whether further emotional contact might be made e.g. striking up a conversation, smiling, offering greetings etc.

Works Cited

Miron Zuckerman, Marianne Miserandino,Frank Bernieri. Civil Inattention Exists—in Elevators. 2010. 13 8 2010 <http://psp.sagepub.com/content/9/4/578.abstract>.