The Pursuit of Attention
Power and Individualism in Everyday Life
by Charles Derber
Power and Individualism in Everyday Life
by Charles Derber
1979
The Pursuit of Attention is a book I've had borrowed from a friend seemingly forever, and for whatever reason it's taken me a long time to read, despite its relatively short length. Derber is a micro-sociologist who uses close observation of conversations to study how people give and receive attention in everyday life.
He finds that higher status people (men, White Americans, and by education and occupation) generally receive more attention than they give, and lower status people (women, racial minorities, and again by education and job) generally give more attention than they receive. Low status jobs often require workers to give attention, allowing higher status customers to essentially buy attention.
He finds that higher status people (men, White Americans, and by education and occupation) generally receive more attention than they give, and lower status people (women, racial minorities, and again by education and job) generally give more attention than they receive. Low status jobs often require workers to give attention, allowing higher status customers to essentially buy attention.
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