| Western visitors to Thailand often find | | | | associated with lower class people. Thailand is a |
| themselves struggling for an explanation to the | | | | hierarchal society and the impression you make |
| mysteries of Thai behaviour. Why do they | | | | does affect the response you will get from |
| sometimes behave in ways that seem so strange | | | | officials. Looking smart is not everything but it is a |
| to us? One common explanation often put | | | | factor in getting good service. |
| forward is the Thai concept of 'face'. | | | | Behaviour |
| Why won't they admit they are wrong? They | | | | It is important to act with a degree of dignity. |
| would lose face. Why won't they admit they don't | | | | Thais are not serious people but they still like to |
| know? They would lose face. Why did I get bad | | | | carry themselves with a little decorum. Joking and |
| service? Because you lost your temper and lost | | | | fooling around is fine within limits but you should |
| face. Again and again, when newcomers ask for | | | | not be too loud or make a spectacle of yourself. |
| an explanation to some strange facet of Thai | | | | Temper |
| behaviour, the old timers give this simple | | | | It is bad to lose your temper or argue in public. |
| explanation. | | | | That is not to say it doesn't happen. Thais are |
| I often wonder if the influence of face is not | | | | human and prone to the odd outburst like most |
| overstated. Are the concepts of face really so | | | | people. However, generally they try to control |
| different from our own? | | | | their anger and keep their composure. If they find |
| What is Face? | | | | themselves in a dispute then they believe a |
| Face is a concept that is widespread across most | | | | strong word and a cold smile are better ways to |
| of southern and eastern Asia. It is the idea that it | | | | get their point across while maintaining their face. |
| is important to maintain your own reputation and | | | | Respect Others |
| not look bad in front of others. It is good to have | | | | It is important to help other people maintain their |
| high social status. It is good to have a good job, a | | | | face. Causing someone else to lose face can |
| position of responsibility or influence. It is bad to | | | | actually also cause a loss of face for yourself. |
| be seen to fail or do something stupid. | | | | The strange thing here is that it is very much to |
| It is also bad to cause other people to lose face. | | | | people's faces that you must respect them. |
| So while maintaining your own reputation you | | | | Gossiping behind peoples backs is as common |
| should try not to demean others. | | | | here as it is in the west. |
| When you look at these ideas, there is nothing | | | | Over-reaction to Losing Face |
| unusual about them. Doesn't everybody want to | | | | One strange thing about face is that Thais can |
| have a good reputation? Shouldn't everybody | | | | overreact if they feel they have lost face. While |
| respect others? They seem like universal | | | | we have already stated that losing your temper is |
| concepts. However, the belief is that these are | | | | a loss of face, when Thais do lose their temper |
| far stronger driving forces in Asia than elsewhere. | | | | they can lose it in a big way. They know they are |
| How Does Face Work in Thailand? | | | | looking bad and losing face and this can actually |
| How face affects Thai behaviour is a big subject. | | | | magnify their anger. The result can be extreme |
| If you really analysed it you could write a book on | | | | over-reactions and sometimes acts of violence. |
| the subject. We will only attempt to scratch the | | | | Conclusion |
| surface. The first thing to say is that the following | | | | The above are just a selection of the ways in |
| are generalisations. Many Thais are not that | | | | which face influences Thai behaviour. However, |
| strongly influenced by face. Still, there are a few | | | | when you look at them, none of them are that |
| ways in which face consistently affects Thai life. | | | | alien to western values. We like to look good, |
| Personal Appearance | | | | make a good impression, we want people to like |
| Personal appearance is important. It is the first | | | | and respect us. We do tend to believe it is good |
| impression you make on people. Thais are | | | | to control our tempers and respect others. |
| generally well turned out, especially when working, | | | | There is no doubt that face is a factor in |
| going out or dealing with officials. | | | | understanding Thai behaviour. It does affect the |
| Many westerners in Thailand enjoy the laid-back | | | | Thai mentality in subtle and deep-reaching ways. |
| atmosphere and like to dress casual in dirty old | | | | However, I do believe it is a mistake to |
| shirts, shorts and flip-flops. This is fine in casual | | | | over-state its importance. The explanations of |
| situations but it can make a bad impression in | | | | Thai behaviour are often much simpler. Human |
| more formal situations such as dealing with | | | | nature is still the greatest driving force. The things |
| officials. Government officials and offices are | | | | that influence our behaviour such as love, greed |
| positions of respect and if you turn up scruffy, | | | | and ego are also the forces that influence Thais. |
| they may see it as a disrespectful start. | | | | Thais really are not so different from us. The |
| You will make this bad opening impression worse | | | | reason we often don't understand Thai behaviour |
| if you have tattoos, body piercings or an unusual | | | | is simple - people are complicated. |
| haircut. These are all things that in Thailand are | | | | |