Requests threaten the recipient's autonomy or self-image, so effective communication manages face rather than merely transmitting content.
Brown and Levinson's 1978 theory. It explains why indirect requests dominate — "could you possibly" costs more words and buys the recipient the option of declining without a confrontation.
In practice
- "Could you possibly send that over when you have a moment" costs more words and buys the recipient a way to decline.
- A code review that says "did we consider X?" is answered; one that says "this is wrong" is defended against.
- Further reading
- Wikipedia
- Subject
- Communication & Media
- Essay
- Theories of what stands between an event and its audience