E
Everyday Science
Elevator awkwardness Do you ever take the time in your busy life to wonder about everyday phenomena? Things that are obvious to us, or perhaps just make for a handy trick? Nevertheless, there is always a scientific explanation for such phenomena. In Everyday Science a UT researcher sheds light on an everyday topic.
contact and avoidance, or as Goffman states: ‘One gives to another enough visual notice to demonstrate that one
Tekst: Rense Kuipers
16
Photo: Shutterstock
appreciates that the other is present (and that one admits openly to having seen him),
But there are also other ways
while at the next moment
of dealing with elevator awk-
withdrawing one’s attention
wardness, says Van Vuuren,
It’s one of society’s weird
social routines collide. On the
from him so as to express
in the form of breaching our
places: elevators. Packed
one hand, you are in the pres-
that he does not constitute
social conventions. ‘It’s what
with people who do not
ence of strangers for a very
a target of special curiosity.’
Professor Harold Garfinkel
know where to look or what
short time. In such situations,
For the remainder of the ride
was known for in the field of
to say. And so we just hope
you normally remain silent.
you just look into the direc-
ethnomethodology, the meth-
everything is over soon.
On the other hand, you stand
tion of the door.
ods people use to understand
Communication expert Mark
so close to one another
‘Small talk is difficult in eleva-
and produce the everyday-
van Vuuren (BMS faculty)
in a claustrophobically small
tors,’ says the Associate Pro-
ness of social life. He asked
explains the phenomenon of
space, invading each
fessor. ‘You cannot talk too
his students to break those
‘elevator awkwardness’.
other’s private space, that
loud, as others have to listen
rules to see what happened.
‘You could see the elevator
you cannot ignore each other.
to you as well. But whispering
So if someone enters the ele-
as a pressure-cooker,’ states
This is the social dilemma of
suggests that you are hiding
vator next week and asks if he
the Associate Professor. ‘It’s
elevators.’
a secret. So we cultivated
can stand in your place, you
a place where two distinct
Generally, we solve this
the unspoken conclusion that
are probably part of an ex-
tension by what Canadian
co-silence is the best solu-
periment. Compared to these
sociologist Erving Goffman
tion.’ As a consolation, Van
interactions, a short moment
described as ‘civil inattention’.
Vuuren adds, awkward silenc-
in silence is far less awkward.
That is the mundane, yet
es often feel longer than they
All thanks to our capabilities
subtle balancing act between
really are.
of civil inattention.’