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Journal of Language and Social Psychology
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Older Adults’ Responses to Patronizing Advice

Balancing Politeness and Identity in Context

Mary Lee Hummert

University of Kansas

Debra C. Mazloff

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Following Okamoto and Robinson, two studies extended the study of politeness in context to a consideration of how older individuals respond to advice delivered in a patronizing (impolite) or affirming (polite) manner. Study 1 involved older persons in focus groups that considered contexts for, perceptions of, and responses to patronizing advice. Study 2 collected oral responses from other older individuals in a 2 (advice style: patronizing/affirming) 2 (context: community/hospital) design. Together, the studies showed that participants perceived at least five ways of responding to patronizing advice (appreciative, assertive, passive, ignoring, condescending) that vary from highly polite (appreciative) to polite to impolite (condescending). Results from Study 2 supported the hypothesis that evaluations of advice and responses would show that the hospital context legitimates a patronizing advice style, consistent with the general framework of Politeness Theory. Other results reinforced the complexity and challenges of using the theory to interpret behaviors in context.

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, Vol. 20, No. 1-2, 168-196 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/0261927X01020001008
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E. B. Ryan, A. P. Anas, and D. B. Friedman
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Journal of Language and Social Psychology, June 1, 2006; 25(2): 129 - 145.
[Abstract] [PDF]