Face Negotiation Theory Literature Review Example

Face and facework are closely connected with the self-image of people being displayed when communicating with other people. The theory itself was first proposed to understand the way different cultures react to some conflict situation. It is important to mention that the term face is used here more in the metaphorical sense than in its direct meaning. Thus, it relates to the image people usually display in public. The term facework stands for communicative behaviors. According to the theory, the difference in the ways people react to conflict depends on the conflict issue itself, relations between people and their identity. Face-concern refers to one’s own face of the face of someone else. Face need can be seen as a need or wish of someone to be associated with others. Positive faces are related to the desire to be liked by someone who is important for one’s live while negative faces stand for the desire to remain autonomous. The theory proves the fact that self-identity plays a very significant role in the interaction with people belonging to different backgrounds. It also supports the idea that conflict management is determined by face and culture the person belongs to. Self-image is also said to depend on certain acts.
Having studied the material, I assume that the theorist is right in the provided assumptions. The theorist’s ideas imply that Face-Negotiation Theory is related with the conflict and the system of beliefs and stereotypes people have in regards to the representatives of different cultures. It is always important whether a person belongs to a collectivist or individualistic culture. As I personally see it, people really comprehend the way others relate to their cultural background and how they usually behave in conflicts.