Incivility: The Rude Stranger in Everyday Life

Has anyone ever pushed in front of you in a queue? Stolen your parking space? Talked on their mobile phone during a film at the cinema? In our everyday lives we all encounter rude and inconsiderate people. This unique book provides the first ever systematic investigation of typical encounters with rudeness. Through a meticulous analysis of over 500 events it maps out what people experience as rude, where and when this happens, and what takes place in the exchange between the participants. The inquiry further charts the emotional and social consequences of rudeness and victimization, with the results challenging the widespread assumption that bad behaviour is toxic to community life. In conclusion the study draws upon its findings and surveys a range of strategies for reducing the level of incivility in everyday life, identifying some simple and innovative solutions. Incivility will appeal to criminologists, sociologists and scholars of urban studies.

Philip Smith is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, and Deputy Director of the Yale Center for Cultural Sociology at Yale University, Connecticut.

Timothy L. Phillips is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Tasmania.

Ryan D. King is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the State University of New York, Albany.